21 Facts About Nasser Moghaddam

Lieutenant General Nasser Moghaddam was an Iranian military officer who served as the fourth and final chief of SAVAK from 6 June 1978 to 12 February 1979.

Nasser Moghaddam assumed the position after the arrest of General Nematollah Nassiri in 1978, following an order issued by the Shah.

Nasser Moghaddam was born in 1921 in Tehran, Qajar Iran.

Nasser Moghaddam attended a military high school and later pursued a law degree at the Faculty of Tehran University.

In 1941, during the final year of Reza Shah's reign, Nasser Moghaddam enlisted in the Officers' School, where he remained until 1943.

Nasser Moghaddam completed his studies at the officers' academy, attaining the rank of 2nd rank lieutenant, and decided to pursue further education at the Faculty of Law, University of Tehran.

At the Officers' School, Nasser Moghaddam met Hossein Fardoust, an event he considered to be the most significant in his life.

Thanks to his acquaintance with Fardoust, Nasser Moghaddam served in various divisions of the army until 1964, including the 10th Division of Khorasan, the 5th Division of Luristan, the Shah's Guard, the Ministry of Defense, the Military Prosecutor's Office, and the Academy.

In 1959, the "Special Intelligence Bureau" was established in Iran, and General Hossein Fardoust extended an offer to Nasser Moghaddam to collaborate with him.

Nasser Moghaddam served as the director of the third Department for approximately 10 years.

Nasser Moghaddam's responsibilities encompassed overseeing the actions of revolutionary groups and providing the Shah with weekly updates on the public sentiment, a task he purportedly executed competently.

In 1971, Lieutenant General Nasser Moghaddam was promoted to the position of Director of the Army's Second Bureau of Intelligence and Counterintelligence.

On 19 April 1973, General Nasser Moghaddam assumed the role of Deputy Director General of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, serving under General Azizollah Palizban.

Nasser Moghaddam emphasized the necessity of exemplary punishment for corrupt government officials associated with the royal family and stressed the importance of engaging in a constructive dialogue with the clergy.

Lieutenant General Nasser Moghaddam was appointed as the new head of the secret police due to his connections within the opposition, including the Shiite clergy.

Unlike General Nassiri, Nasser Moghaddam advocated for a constructive dialogue with the religious opposition.

Nasser Moghaddam was known for opposing the use of torture and his appointment aimed to facilitate better integration between the army and the secret service.

Reports suggest that the CIA exerted pressure on Nassiri and his supporters to remove them from the intelligence service, with Nasser Moghaddam being the only viable replacement.

General Nasser Moghaddam had previously served as the army's chief of counterintelligence and was known for his opposition to torture during interrogations.

Nasser Moghaddam's appointment to his new position was a result of the Shah's desire to integrate the army and SAVAK, aiming to implement democratic reforms within the armed forces.

However, on 11 April 1979, General Nasser Moghaddam was executed by order of the Islamic Revolutionary Tribunal.