SAVAK

The Organization of Intelligence and Security of the Nation, commonly known by its Persian acronym SAVAK, was the national intelligence agency of Iran under the Pahlavi dynasty. Established in 1957 by Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, SAVAK was the successor to the previous security organization and was tasked with internal and external intelligence gathering, counterintelligence, and maintaining national security. Its creation was heavily influenced and supported by the United States' Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Israel's Mossad, which provided training and operational assistance.

SAVAK was known for its extensive network of informants and its pervasive surveillance of the population. Its activities included monitoring political dissidents, suppressing opposition movements, and enforcing the Shah's authoritarian rule. The agency was widely accused of human rights abuses, including arbitrary arrests, torture, and executions of political opponents. While its primary focus was on internal security, SAVAK also conducted operations abroad to monitor and neutralize perceived threats to the Iranian monarchy.

Following the Iranian Revolution in 1979, SAVAK was dissolved by the new Islamic government. Many of its former members were arrested or fled the country. The legacy of SAVAK remains a contentious issue in Iran, often cited as an example of the repression and human rights violations of the Pahlavi era. The organization's methods and its role in maintaining the Shah's power are subjects of historical debate and analysis.