The World - News from April 24, 1989

Iran’s supreme leader, the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, has apparently cast aside reservations about bringing his only surviving son, Ahmed, into national politics and is grooming him to become his designated successor, Iranian opposition sources and Western diplomats said. Last month, moderate Ayatollah Hussein Ali Montazeri, 65, stepped aside as Khomeini’s apparent successor after openly questioning the achievements of Iran’s 10-year revolution. As recently as last October, Khomeini had rejected a request for Ahmed, 43, to become involved. The son does not hold an office but acts as Khomeini’s chief aide and often attends high-level, policy-making meetings.