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Article: Khomeini's Designated Heir Resigns Amid Purge in Iran
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- March 29, 1989
- Author:
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Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, the appointed heir of Ayatollah
Ruhollah Khomeini as Iran's top spiritual and political leader,
announced his resignation yesterday in what appeared to be a widening
purge of the revolution's internal critics and those favoring an
opening to the West.
U.S. officials and Iranian experts said Montazeri's downfall
appeared to signal a major upheaval in Iran's top leadership and a
more hard-line attitude toward the West, particularly the United
States, that may diminish hopes for the release soon of American
hostages held by pro-Iranian extremists in Lebanon.
"It doesn't bode well for the hostage situation," said one U.S.
official.
The same official also said ...