Abbas Gharabaghi General ("arteshbod") of the Iranian armed forces Date of Birth: 01.01.1918 Country: Azerbaijan

1. Abbas Gharabaghi: Iranian Lieutenant General
2. Appointment as Chief of Staff
3. Alleged Negotiations and Support for Prime Minister Bakhtiar
4. Demonstration of Shah's Support
5. Uprising and Fall of the Shah
6. Military Council and Dissolution of SAVAK
7. General Assembly and Challenge to Government Authority

Abbas Gharabaghi: Iranian Lieutenant General

Abbas Gharabaghi, also known as Arteshbod Gharabaghi, was an Iranian Lieutenant General and the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces in 1979. He graduated from military school in Tabriz and received his doctorate in law from France in 1953.

Appointment as Chief of Staff

On January 4, 1979, Shah appointed Gharabaghi as Chief of Staff of the Iranian Army to prevent the collapse of army discipline and consolidate the officer corps and top generals.

Alleged Negotiations and Support for Prime Minister Bakhtiar

In January 1979, media reported secret negotiations between Mehdi Bazargan and Shah's generals, aiming to secure their support for a return of Khomeini, the abolition of the monarchy, and the establishment of an Islamic republic. However, Gharabaghi repeatedly declared the army's support for Prime Minister Shahpour Bakhtiar.

Demonstration of Shah's Support

On January 23, the Immortal Guard, an elite unit of the Shah's army, paraded in front of international journalists, chanting "Long live the Shah" and demonstrating combat readiness. General-Major Ali Neshat, the Guard's commander, declared their unwavering loyalty to the Shah.

Uprising and Fall of the Shah

On February 9, a brawl erupted at the Doshan Tappeh Air Force Base between supporters and opponents of Khomeini, escalating into a battle. On February 11, widespread fighting broke out, with rebels capturing key government institutions. Despite resistance from some units, most surrendered without a fight.

Military Council and Dissolution of SAVAK

In the midst of the chaos, Iran's Supreme Military Council convened at the Army General Staff Headquarters. Despite a decree by Prime Minister Bakhtiar disbanding SAVAK, the secret police, its chief attended the meeting. This demonstrated the lack of government control over security forces.

General Assembly and Challenge to Government Authority

The convening of the Supreme Military Council without Prime Minister Bakhtiar's consent highlighted the diminishing authority of the government. During the meeting, General Moghadam declared that due to the closure of SAVAK offices, he lacked knowledge of the situation in the country.