SAVAK

SAVAK, short for "Sazeman-e Vaziyat-e Khabari-ye Keshvar," was Iran's secret police and intelligence agency from 1957 until the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Established under the regime of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, its primary role was to suppress dissent, monitor political opposition, and maintain the regime's power. SAVAK used surveillance, imprisonment, and torture against those suspected of opposing the Shah’s rule. Its actions contributed to widespread resentment in Iran, playing a significant role in the public's eventual uprising against the monarchy during the revolution, which led to the establishment of the Islamic Republic.