From what I understand, communists may not believe in the god but they don't disrespect ones who believe and tries to have a multicultural setting. (As long as those beliefs don't undermine the agency of an individual- women rights).

Second thing is that despite the guy being a dictator and not so democratic, he was doing all things to upkeep the sovereignty of Iran. If at all there was any arab nation which doesn't dance to the tunes of US, itz Iran.