Historical Figure
Ruhollah Khomeini
1902–1989
Supreme Leader of Iran from 1979 to 1989
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Key Dates
Death
1989 June 3, 1989 →Biography
Ruhollah Mostafavi Musavi Khomeini was an Iranian political revolutionary and Shia cleric who served as the first supreme leader of Iran from 1979 until his death in 1989. He was the main leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which overthrew Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and transformed Iran into an Islamic republic.
Timeline
Iranian politician, religious figure, and political leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution (d. 1989)
September 24 →Movement of 15 Khordad: Protests against the arrest of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini by the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. In several cities, masses of angry demonstrators are confronted by tanks and paratroopers.
June 5 →Iran hostage crisis: Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini orders the release of 13 female and black American hostages being held at the US Embassy in Tehran.
November 19 →The Iranian Revolution establishes an Islamic theocracy under the leadership of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
February 11 →The Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returns to Tehran, Iran after nearly 15 years of exile.
February 1 →Islamic revolution of Iran achieves victory under the leadership of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
February 11 →Iran hostage crisis: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini states that Iran's parliament will decide the fate of the American embassy hostages.
February 23 →In the 1989 Iranian Supreme Leader election, Ali Khamenei is elected as the new Supreme Leader of Iran after the death and funeral of Ruhollah Khomeini.
June 4 →Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini issues a fatwa encouraging Muslims to kill Salman Rushdie, author of The Satanic Verses.
February 14 →Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini offers a US$3 million bounty for the death of The Satanic Verses author Salman Rushdie.
February 24 →More from the Early 20th Century
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