Morteza Yazdanpanah

Morteza Yazdanpanah (1888–1970) was an army officer who served as chief-of-staff in the Imperial Iranian army for two times, between 1941 and 1942 and in 1952. He also held other governmental and military positions during the reigns of Reza Shah and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

Early life and education

Yazdanpanah was born in Tehran in 1888.[1] His father was a colonel in the army.[1] From 1907 Morteza Yazdanpanah attended Cossack's House which trained army officers for Cossack Brigade.[2]

Career

Yazdanpanah was one of the close allies of Reza Shah, but later their relations became tense.[3] Yazdanpanah was the commander of the Iranian army's northern division during the coup organized by Reza Shah against Qajar dynasty in 1921.[2] The same year he was promoted to brigadier general.[1] In 1928 he was made major general and chief inspector of the army and next year he was appointed chief commander of the gendarme.[1] Yazdanpanah was also assigned to significant posts by the next Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.[3] He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general in 1942.[1]

He served as the minister of war between December 1951 and June 1952.[4]

From June 1963 Yazdanpanah was one of the senior military advisors to Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and was also made senator in 1967.[1][2] He was the organizer of the coronation ceremony of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in 1967.[1]

Personal life and death

Yazdanpanah's wife, Leyla, was born in Russia and her father served as the governor of Russian Azarbaijan.[1]

References
  1. "Morteza Yazdan-Panah - Isabella's Great Grandfather". Isabella Goli Yazdan Panah. Retrieved 15 August 2021. citing Cyrus Ghani's book, Iran and the Rise of Reza Shah, p. 166
  2. Marvin Zonis (1971). Political Elite of Iran. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. p. 65. doi:10.1515/9781400868803-006. ISBN 9780691644196.
  3. "Centers of Power in Iran" (PDF). CIA. May 1972. p. 14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  4. John P. Gilennon, ed. (1989). Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers 1952-1954. Washington DC: US Government Printing Office. p. XVIII.
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