---
title: "Ayatollah Khomeini Returns to Iran"
year: 1979
country: "Iran"
canonical: "https://recap.at/1979/khomeini-return"
slug: "khomeini-return"
recapType: "global_event"
startDate: "1979-01-01"
---

# Ayatollah Khomeini Returns to Iran

> The exiled religious leader's arrival from France catalyzed the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty and Islamic Republic's founding.

## Summary

Ruhollah Mostafavi Musavi Khomeini was an Iranian politician and Shia cleric who served as the first supreme leader of Iran from 1979 until his death in 1989. He was the leader of the Iranian Revolution, which overthrew Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, ended the Pahlavi era, and transformed the country into an Islamic republic. As supreme leader, he implemented policies that came to be known as Khomeinism.

## Sources

- [Ayatollah Khomeini](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruhollah_Khomeini) - Wikipedia

---
Canonical: https://recap.at/1979/khomeini-return