[khoh-mey-nee, khoo-; Pers. khaw-mey-nee] 
| Ayatollah Ru⋅hol⋅lah [roo-hoh-luh; Pers. roo-haw-lah] , 1900?–89, Islamic leader of Iran 1979–89. |
An Iranian religious and political leader of the twentieth century. Imposing rule by Islamic law (see Islam) and determined to rid Iran of foreign, and especially American, influences, he became virtual dictator of Iran in 1979. With his blessing, Iranian militants held American diplomats as hostages from 1979 to 1981. He died in 1989.
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