From the McFarlane Affair to the Letter to the Kremlin: Does dialogue equal compromise? The history of the Islamic Revolution answers this question with a clear "no."
With a profound understanding of the power of discourse, Imam Khomeini used dialogue as a tool to consolidate the Revolution’s authority.
During the "McFarlane Affair," while dealing firmly with those who sought to exploit the situation, he maintained strict control over all communication and messaging with Western envoys.
Conversely, his initiation of correspondence with Gorbachev and the reception of the Soviet Foreign Minister demonstrated that the Leader of the Revolution sought to ideologically disarm the superpowers — not on the military battlefield, but in the arena of "strategic and principled dialogue."
"During the 'McFarlane' mission, Imam Khomeini took a firm stance against those who sought to exploit the meeting. He also initiated dialogue through correspondence with Gorbachev, the then-leader of the communist world."
Excerpted from the article: "Dialogue in the Realm of Reason and Religion: Islam is a Religion of Attraction and Persuasion", Mohammad Naderi Malekshah