Ruhollah Khomeini

Ruhollah Khomeini Ayatollah Khomeini Imam Khomeini 17 May 1900 3 June 1989 was an Iranian political and religious leader who served as the first supreme leader of Iran from 1979 until his death in 1989 He was the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution which saw the overthrow of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and the end of the Persian monarchy Following the revolution Khomeini became the countrys first supreme leader a position created in the constitution of the Islamic Republic as the highestranking political and religious authority of the nation which he held until his death Most of his period in power was taken up by the IranIraq War of 19801988 He was succeeded by Ali Khamenei on 4 June 1989