Ayatollah

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Wednesday denounced Gulf Arab states for lifting a secondary boycott of Israel, saying it was treason against Arabs and Muslims. Khamenei, in remarks at a military academy graduation ceremony reported by Tehran Radio, said the Gulf states had committed "the biggest treason against Islamic and Arab nations, especially the Palestinians."

Conrad's cartoon of Khomeini carrying an oversized AK-47 under his right arm (Feb. 17) holding "The Satanic Verses" with his outstretched left arm, yelling "Author! Author!" is a real classic. Mr. Conrad, I salute you. SAMUEL S. SHERWIN Los Angeles

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei endorsed the recent crackdown on reformist newspapers in Iran, describing the publications as "deviant" and urging supporters not to remain silent. He condemned "a deviant media movement that is trying to shape public opinion and turn it against Islam . . . and the Islamic Republic." His remarks came amid reports that a court dominated by hard-liners had sent a warning to the brother of reformist President Mohammad Khatami.

The daughter of Iran's late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini said Sunday that her father suffered five heart attacks in the 10 days after surgery May 23 for stomach cancer. He died June 3. Confirming that her father had cancer, Zahra Mustafavi said Khomeini died in a small clinic near his home in north Tehran, where 40 Iranian physicians debated every aspect of his care and where every moment in his final days was recorded on a hidden videotaping system. The clinic was taken over by Khomeini's medical team nine years ago after his first serious heart attack and after concerns were raised that he might be the target of assassination attempts, for which medical facilities would be needed close by, the daughter said.