Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was the autocratic ruler of Iran from 1953 to 1979, installed by the 1953 CIA-backed coup against Mohammad Mosaddegh. His regime was supported by U.S. and Israeli intelligence, and it committed extensive human rights abuses across its twenty-six years in power. The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) played key roles in organizing and supporting the Shah’s SAVAK security service, which repressed political opposition with brutality. The author argues that the Shah’s rule was a product of Western intervention and that his regime’s repression contributed to the conditions that led to the 1979 Islamic revolution.
The Shah’s regime was marked by widespread torture, political imprisonment, and suppression of dissent, with American and Israeli officials aware of these abuses throughout the period. Despite this, U.S. and Israeli policy continued to support the Shah’s regime, reflecting the broader strategic interests of the architecture in maintaining control over Iran. The Shah’s rule ultimately collapsed in 1979 due to widespread popular unrest, which was fueled by the accumulated grievances of the Iranian population against his autocratic regime.
Related: iran.md, capture.md, mohammad-mosaddegh.md, savak.md