Few events in modern history dwarf a funeral the way Ayatollah Khomeini’s did. When Iran’s first Supreme Leader died in June 1989, the crowds that poured into Tehran were so immense that the procession collapsed into chaos.

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Birth: 24 September 1902, Khomeyn, Iran ·
Death: 3 June 1989, Tehran, Iran ·
Years as Supreme Leader: 1979 – 1989 ·
Funeral Attendance: Estimated 10.2 million ·
Number of Wives: Two ·
Children: Seven (five survived infancy)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • 1902 – Born in Khomeyn, Iran (Britannica)
  • 1964 – Exiled to Iraq after opposing the Shah (Britannica)
  • February 1979 – Returns to Iran after the Shah’s departure (Britannica)
  • June 1989 – Dies; funeral attended by millions (Guinness World Records)
4What’s next
  • Ali Khamenei succeeded Khomeini as Supreme Leader (Britannica)
  • The Islamic Republic continues under Khamenei’s leadership (Britannica)
  • Khomeini’s tomb in Behesht-e Zahra remains a pilgrimage site (Britannica)

Ten key biographical facts in one glance: from his clerical training to the unprecedented funeral that followed his death.

Full Name Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini
Born 24 September 1902, Khomeyn, Iran
Died 3 June 1989, Tehran, Iran (age 86)
Title Ayatollah, Imam
Role First Supreme Leader of Iran
Preceded by Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (as Shah)
Succeeded by Ali Khamenei
Number of Wives Two
Children Five surviving (three daughters, two sons)

The implication: Khomeini’s lineage and institutional role directly shaped the succession that followed.

What was Ayatollah Khomeini known for?

Khomeini is primarily remembered as the architect of the 1979 Iranian Revolution that overthrew the Western-backed Shah. He established the Islamic Republic of Iran, a theocratic state where he held ultimate authority as Supreme Leader for a decade (Britannica (encyclopedic authority)).

Role in the 1979 Iranian Revolution

  • Khomeini led the movement that toppled Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi in 1979 (Britannica).
  • His return to Tehran on 1 February 1979 was greeted by millions (Britannica).

Establishment of the Islamic Republic

  • A national referendum in April 1979 created the Islamic Republic (Britannica).
  • Khomeini became the ultimate political and religious authority (Britannica).

Doctrine of Velayat-e Faqih

  • His political theory placed supreme authority in a religious jurist (the faqih) (Britannica).
  • This doctrine justified his own role as Supreme Leader.
The core idea

Khomeini fused Shia clerical authority with state power—a system that still governs Iran today, with Ali Khamenei as the second faqih.

Bottom line: Khomeini transformed Iran from a monarchy into a theocracy. For Iranians, his rule meant clerical oversight of every aspect of life. For the West, he became the face of revolutionary anti-Americanism.

Why was Ayatollah Khomeini exiled from Iran?

Khomeini’s exile spanned 14 years and took him from Iraq to France, and finally back to Iran in 1979.

Exile to Iraq (1964)

  • He was forcibly exiled on 4 November 1964 (Britannica).
  • The reason: his outspoken criticism of the Shah’s White Revolution and the granting of diplomatic immunity to U.S. personnel (Britannica).

Move to France (1978)

Return to Iran (February 1979)

  • The Shah left Iran on 16 January 1979 (Britannica).
  • Khomeini returned on 1 February 1979 to a massive welcome (Britannica).
Why this matters

Exile transformed Khomeini from a dissident cleric into a global symbol of resistance. His ability to lead from abroad showcased the power of modern communication—and the Shah’s inability to contain an idea.

Bottom line: Khomeini’s 14‑year exile turned him into a revolutionary icon. For the Shah, the failure to silence him abroad paved the way for the revolution. For Iranians, the exile narrative proved that opposition could not be crushed by force.

How many people died at Ayatollah Khomeini’s funeral?

The funeral on 11 June 1989 remains one of the largest human gatherings in history—and one of the most chaotic.

Funeral crowd size estimates

  • Guinness World Records states that 10.2 million people attended along the 32‑km procession route (Guinness World Records).
  • Other estimates range from 2 million to over 10 million (Wikipedia (community‑curated encyclopedia)).

Cause and number of casualties

  • According to Guinness, eight people were killed and 500 injured in the stampede (Guinness World Records).
  • Wikipedia corroborates eight dead from the crush (Wikipedia).

Impact on subsequent funeral arrangements

  • The crowd surged so violently that the body was repeatedly dropped (Wikipedia).
  • A second, tightly controlled funeral was held days later (Guinness World Records).
The paradox

The funeral was both the ultimate show of Khomeini’s popularity and a tragic failure of planning. Iran’s leadership learned a harsh lesson: devotion, when uncontrolled, can be deadly.

Bottom line: The funeral killed at least eight people. For a government that prides itself on order, the uncontrolled chaos was a deep embarrassment.

What was the Iran–Iraq War and why did Saddam fight Khomeini?

The Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988) was the longest conventional war of the 20th century, and its roots lie directly in the Iranian Revolution.

Saddam Hussein’s motivations

  • Saddam invaded Iran in September 1980, fearing that Khomeini’s revolution would inspire Iraq’s Shia majority (Britannica).
  • He also aimed to seize oil‑rich Khuzestan and exploit Iran’s post‑revolutionary chaos.

Role of the Islamic Revolution

  • Khomeini called for the overthrow of Saddam’s regime, portraying the war as a battle between Islam and apostasy (Britannica).
  • The war became a ideological crusade for Iran, with massive human‑wave attacks.

War outcomes and casualties

  • The war ended in a stalemate in 1988 (Britannica).
  • An estimated 500,000 to 1 million people died on both sides.
The trade‑off

Khomeini’s refusal to accept a ceasefire until 1988 cost Iran hundreds of thousands of lives. For Saddam, the war bankrupted Iraq and set the stage for his later invasion of Kuwait.

Bottom line: The war was a direct consequence of the revolution. Khomeini’s ideological commitment to exporting the revolution prolonged the conflict and deepened Iran’s isolation.

What was Ayatollah Khomeini’s cause of death and who succeeded him?

Khomeini died on 3 June 1989, ending a decade of rule that reshaped Iran and the Middle East.

Death from a heart attack

  • Britannica records his death as 3 June 1989, at age 86, after a prolonged illness (Britannica).
  • State television announced the death of “the leader of the Islamic Revolution.”

Transition of power to Ali Khamenei

  • The Assembly of Experts quickly elected Ali Khamenei as the second Supreme Leader (Britannica).
  • Khamenei has held the position since 1989.

Funeral and burial site

  • Khomeini is buried in the Behesht‑e Zahra cemetery in southern Tehran (Wikipedia).
  • The mausoleum complex remains a pilgrimage site for millions of Iranians each year.

The catch: Khomeini’s death triggered a smooth succession that preserved the Islamic Republic, but the system he built still governs under his successor.

Bottom line: Khomeini’s death triggered a smooth succession that preserved the Islamic Republic. For Iranians, the transition ensured the survival of the system he built. For the world, Khamenei’s long tenure has meant continuity in Iran’s adversarial foreign policy.

Timeline: Key dates in Khomeini’s life

  • 1902 – Born in Khomeyn, Iran (Britannica)
  • 1963‑1964 – Arrested for opposing the Shah’s White Revolution (Britannica)
  • 1964 – Exiled to Iraq (Britannica)
  • 1978 – Moved to France after expulsion from Iraq (Brookings Institution)
  • February 1979 – Returns to Iran; revolution triumphs (Britannica)
  • April 1979 – Islamic Republic established
  • 1980‑1988 – Iran‑Iraq War (Britannica)
  • June 1989 – Dies; funeral attended by up to 10.2 million (Guinness World Records)

What we know vs. what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Khomeini died on 3 June 1989 (Britannica)
  • He was the first Supreme Leader of Iran (Britannica)
  • His funeral crowd was the largest in history, estimated at 10.2 million (Guinness World Records)
  • He was exiled in 1964 for opposing the Shah (Britannica)
  • He had two wives (Wikipedia)

What’s unclear

  • Exact number of deaths at the funeral (reports range from dozens to hundreds) (Guinness World Records reports 8 killed)
  • Precise crowd count (estimates vary from 2 million to 10.2 million) (Wikipedia)
  • Number of Christians in Iran today and the specifics of their legal treatment

Voices on Khomeini

The Islamic Revolution is the revolution of the oppressed against the oppressors. The United States is the Great Satan.

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, as recorded in historical accounts (Britannica)

The largest percentage of population to attend a funeral is 10,200,000, representing one‑sixth of Iran’s population.

Guinness World Records (Guinness)

Khomeini’s legacy is double‑edged. He gave Iran a revolutionary identity that endures under Khamenei, but also left a trail of war, isolation, and state‑sanctioned violence. For the millions who mourned him, his funeral was proof of devotion. For the world, it was a warning about the power of a leader who fused faith with absolute political control. For Iran today, the choice is clear: continue the path he set, or find a way to reconcile his vision with the demands of a new century.

Additional sources

facebook.com, facebook.com, study.com, aljazeera.com, bbc.com, youtube.com, en.wikipedia.org, berichtheute.at

Those looking for an in-depth look at his life and death can refer to Ayatollah Khomeinis detailed biography.

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Frequently asked questions

What was Ayatollah Khomeini’s stance on the United States?

Khomeini viewed the United States as the “Great Satan” and a corrupting influence on the Muslim world. He opposed U.S. involvement in Iran and the Middle East and supported the 1979 hostage crisis (Britannica).

Did Ayatollah Khomeini have any formal education?

He studied theology and jurisprudence in Qom and Najaf, becoming a high‑ranking Shia cleric (ayatollah) (Britannica).

What is Khomeinism?

Khomeinism refers to the political ideology of Khomeini, blending Shia Islam, anti‑imperialism, and the doctrine of Velayat‑e Faqih (rule of the jurist) (Britannica).

How long did Khomeini rule Iran?

He served as Supreme Leader from 1979 until his death in 1989, a total of 10 years.

Was Ayatollah Khomeini buried with full state honors?

Yes, but the first funeral was disrupted by crowds. A second, more controlled state funeral was held a few days later (Guinness World Records).

Did Ayatollah Khomeini approve of the Iran hostage crisis?

Khomeini supported the takeover of the U.S. embassy in Tehran in 1979, which became a defining event of his early rule.

What happened to Ayatollah Khomeini’s family after his death?

His son Ahmad Khomeini remained politically active but died in 1995. Other family members have largely stayed out of politics, though some have supported reformist movements.