A study by the Union Center for Research and Development sheds light on the origins, structure, and role of SAVAK, the notorious intelligence and security organization that served as the Shah’s primary instrument of surveillance and repression until the fall of the Pahlavi regime.
Birth of SAVAK Under US Patronage
On January 30, 1957, Iran’s Senate approved legislation establishing the State Intelligence and Security Organization, widely known by its Persian acronym SAVAK. The agency was formed with direct support from US intelligence services and was officially set up later that year.
Following the US-backed coup of August 19, 1953, Washington found the political space and favorable conditions to expand its influence in Iran without serious resistance, gradually displacing Britain and intervening across nearly all aspects of Iranian affairs.
Controlling Power Through Security and Intelligence
One of the most critical areas of US involvement was the security and intelligence sector. In this context, directing and controlling two pillars was deemed more important than all others: the military and the creation of an internal intelligence and security apparatus.
The first pillar was designed to protect and preserve the Shah, who had been restored to power with foreign backing, positioning him as an executor of Western projects and a regional “policeman” in the Middle East. The second pillar focused on shielding the regime from internal forces and suppressing domestic opposition.
An Intelligence Machine Modeled on the CIA and FBI
To achieve these objectives, SAVAK was established in 1957 under American supervision, with an organizational structure modeled closely on the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). A number of American advisers played a central role in shaping and launching the organization.
From its inception, SAVAK operated across two main domains: intelligence gathering and internal security, quickly becoming synonymous with surveillance, intimidation, and political repression.
Growing Popular Anger During the Revolution
As popular mobilization expanded during the Iranian Revolution, SAVAK’s repression intensified, fueling widespread public hatred toward the organization. As it became increasingly clear that neither the government nor SAVAK could contain the country’s deepening social and political crisis, people found more space to openly express their opposition—and their animosity—toward the agency.
Terms such as “SAVAK” and “SAVAK agent” emerged as some of the most charged expressions of public anger during the revolution. SAVAK members and collaborators became frequent targets of denunciation, public condemnation, and, at times, physical attacks.
Revolutionary Attacks on SAVAK Facilities
By 1978, as revolutionary forces reached an advanced stage in their confrontation with the Pahlavi regime, SAVAK agents and institutions came under direct assault. In several cities, protesters attacked SAVAK offices, centers, and gathering points, symbolizing the collapse of fear that had long shielded the organization.
Repression of the Press and the Erosion of Control
SAVAK’s arbitrary and heavy-handed policies toward newspapers and periodicals triggered a wave of fierce criticism against the government. This pushback was led by the press itself in the final months of 1977 and the early months of 1978.
From mid-1978 onward, SAVAK’s grip on the print media began to weaken. According to SAVAK documents and reports, major publications such as Kayhan and Ettela’at significantly expanded their space for criticism and opposition to the government. In contrast, Iranian radio and television remained under SAVAK control until the very last days of the Pahlavi regime.
The Final Turn to Violence
In the wake of these developments, a new wave of violence and repression swept the country. Despite the Shah’s claims of pursuing a policy of political “opening,” the widening scope of unrest revealed a different reality. As protests spread, SAVAK continued—and intensified—its campaign of suppression against opposition forces, underscoring its central role as the regime’s most feared instrument of control.
Linking SAVAK’s Legacy to Today’s Unrest
The recent wave of unrest in Iran—clearly orchestrated by foreign-backed elements rather than genuine domestic protest—echoes a long history of external interference aimed at undermining the Islamic Republic. Iranian officials have repeatedly highlighted the role of the United States and the Zionist regime in instigating violence, exploiting economic grievances, and spreading chaos to weaken national unity.
Much like SAVAK, which once operated as the Shah’s US-backed tool to crush political dissent and maintain a regime subservient to foreign powers, today’s rioters are seen as instruments of outside agendas seeking to destabilize Iran from within. The Islamic Republic has honored the memory of those martyred in these foreign-fueled attacks and affirmed that its security forces will respond decisively to protect the nation and its people.
Tehran emphasizes that these events are not spontaneous but part of a persistent pattern of foreign meddling targeting Iran’s sovereignty, and the government remains steadfast in defending the country against all attempts to repeat the failures of the Pahlavi era. The resilience of the Iranian people, united behind their leadership, continues to expose and reject these external plots.
Source: Al-Manar Website