Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
| Mohammad Reza Pahlavi link (Iranian royalty, puppet ruler) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 6 October 1919 Tehran, Persia |
| Died | 27 July 1980 Cairo, Egypt |
| Alma mater | Le Rosey |
| Religion | Shia Islam |
| Spouse | Fawzia of Egypt |
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, sometimes referred to simply as "the Shah" was ruler of Iran.
Activities
He was the appointed following the 1953 MI6/CIA Iran coup d'etat. In the following decades, he was a loyal CIA client. Domestically, the country was controlled by the intelligence service SAVAK, which became known for its particularity gruesome torture.Template:Cn Internationally, Iran under his rule was also involved in a large number of deep state activities.
I am not bloodthirsty. I am working for my country and the coming generations. I can't waste my time on a few young idiots. I don't believe the tortures attributed to the SAVAK are as common as people say, but I can't run everything. Besides, we have ways of using psychological pressure that are much more effective than torture... My people have every kind of freedom, except the freedom to betray.[1]
Family
In 1960, rumors circulated that Princess Ashraf, the Shah's twin sister, was arrested in Geneva with a suitcase containing $2 million worth of heroin. Although the details of the arrest remain shrouded in secrecy, it is widely believed that Princess Ashraf was a central figure in Iran's drug trade until the fall of the monarchy in 1979. A 1976 CIA report further solidified her reputation for financial corruption, stating that she had a "near legendary reputation for financial corruption" and that her son, Shahram, controlled around twenty companies that served as "cover for Ashraf’s quasi-legal business ventures."[2]
References
- ↑ As quoted in Gérard de Villiers (1975), The Imperial Shah: An Informal Biography, page 259
- ↑ https://christianbaghai.medium.com/the-underbelly-of-the-pahlavi-dynasty-scandals-corruption-and-intrigue-in-20th-century-iran-4fe564799042
