Ruhollah Khomeini (* September 24, 1902, Khomeyn, Iran — died June 3, 1989, Tehrān), led the Islamic revolution in Iran that overthrew the shah. He was Iran’s ultimate and supreme political and religious authority until his death. The main thrust of his policy was the complete abandonment of Iran's pro-Western orientation and an attitude of unrelenting hostility toward both superpowers. Iran also tried to export its Shiite brand of Islamic revivalism to neighbouring Muslim countries, openly defying Saudi Arabia since 1979.
