Same here my solution stops when it finds a change whereas in python the "best" answer iterates 4 times over the whole array.
BUT if performance does not matter than lets iterate 4 times over it if performance matters optimize the code.

I cannot say what is actualy wrong in the code but i know which test fails:
console.log("Result from my solution is "+iqTest("1 1 2")); --> should be 3 but is 2
console.log("Result from my solution is "+iqTest("1 2 2")); --> should be 1 and is 1
console.log("Result from my solution is "+iqTest("1 2 1")); --> should be 2 but is 1

I think your code just checks for a change but does not take into account the next step

alphabeticaly == alphanumerical sorting which uses the first char to sort any thing so a string starting with 1 is allways befor 2...
1
123
12345
2
234
3
...

it is sorted alpha numerical so a string starting with '1' is allways before a string starting with '9'
1
12345
2
2345
...
..
9