Israel’s Influence in the Pahlavi Government; Zionism, Baha’is, and Imperialism
The intricate relationship between Israel and the Pahlavi government in Iran represents a crucial chapter in the region’s history, characterized by geopolitical maneuvering and ideological conflict. This article examines Israel’s influence in the Pahlavi regime, particularly through the Baha’i community, which served as a conduit for Zionist objectives. The Baha’is, closely aligned with Western powers, gained considerable influence during critical political transitions, especially following the 1299 coup that brought Reza Khan to power. Their involvement in governmental positions facilitated the implementation of policies that aligned with both Baha’i and Zionist interests. Imam Khomeini emerged as a vocal critic of these developments, recognizing the threat posed by both Zionism and Western imperialism to Iranian sovereignty. His opposition was particularly pronounced during the 1962 Provincial and State Associations Bill, which aimed to further entrench the Baha’i influence. This article explores these dynamics and culminates in the Iranian Revolution of 1979, which decisively challenged the established order.
Israel’s influence in the Pahlavi government was a piece of the puzzle designed to destroy Iran; Jewish scholars were well aware of Iran’s role in the battle of the apocalypse, and they knew that the more they degraded the Iranian government and people, the closer they would be to victory in the ominous plan of dominating the world.
Global Zionism, which viewed the clergy and people of Iran as obstacles to its goals of establishing a Jewish civilization in West Asia, initiated the project to eliminate the Qajar government in Iran. They aimed to establish a regime that could enforce imperialist agendas through military might. Regarding the intertwined goals of Zionism and the Baha’i Faith and their comprehensive cooperation, it has been previously mentioned that most Baha’is are Jewish.
Understanding the intertwined objectives of Zionism and Baha’i Faith, along with their comprehensive collaboration and the Jewish identity of most Baha’is, is crucial to grasping Israel’s influence in the Pahlavi government.
How Did Israel’s Influence in the Pahlavi Government Lead to the Struggle of Imam Khomeini Against Zionism?
After the assassination plot against Amir Kabir and the death of Naser al-Din Shah, the primary obstacle for the Baha’is in Iran was removed, allowing them considerable freedom during the reign of Mozaffar al-Din Shah [1]. They played a key role in the 1299 coup, which was designed by Zionists [2], and it is said that Baha’is introduced Reza Khan as a military figure capable of implementing Zionist goals in Iran [3]. Evidence suggests that Reza Khan himself was a Baha’i. He trusted the Baha’is and appointed them to governmental positions, allowing them to infiltrate many state institutions as key advisors and employees [4].
Baha’is capitalized on the political climate during the 1299 coup, establishing the first Baha’i spiritual assembly in Iran in 1921. The publication of the Baha’i newspaper Akhbar Amri occurred in the same year. In December 1925, Reza Khan rose to power, and shortly after, in May 1926, the Haziratu’l-Quds, the official Baha’i meeting and administrative center in Tehran, was inaugurated [5]. By 1934, the organizational structure of Baha’ism in Iran accelerated, aiding both the promotion of Baha’ism and their infiltration into government bodies [6]. Reza Shah’s policy of modernizing women, which included enforcing the unveiling law, secretly pursued Baha’i agendas, with Baha’is significantly assisting Reza Khan in this endeavor [7], [8].
The Bahá’í sect had now transformed into a structured political organization with ambitions for global governance. To this end, a ten-year plan was drafted by Shoghi Effendi, the third leader of the Bahá’í Faith, in 1952, approximately four years after the establishment of the State of Israel, marking it as the first and most important program for the global expansion of Bahá’ís [9]. The establishment of the House of Justice, the most important decision-making center for the Bahá’ís in Israel, occurred during this program in 1963 [10]. The support of the Pahlavi regime for Bahá’ís was so extensive that in the same year, several thousand Bahá’ís traveled with state funds to elect members of the House of Justice. Mohammad Reza Pahlavi granted each Bahá’í five hundred dollars in foreign currency, and their airplane tickets were provided at significantly reduced prices. This widespread support from the regime led to severe opposition and criticism from Imam Khomeini, the clerics, and the public. According to this plan, Bahá’í followers worldwide, particularly in twelve key locations including Iran, were to increase, and the lands and properties of Bahá’ís, especially in Iran, were to be expanded. The land reform law and the bill for provincial and local councils, which were vigorously pursued by the Pahlavi regime, were also part of the Bahá’í ten-year plan. This bill can be seen as the beginning of Imam Khomeini’s struggles against the Pahlavi regime or the sect behind the scenes, Bahá’ism [11] [12].
Following the 1953 coup d’état in Iran, Baha’is, who had not withheld any political, military, or financial support from the Pahlavi regime, were able to gain more influence in the court and advance the Baha’is ten-year plan with greater speed and power [13]. The American-led coup of 1953, planned by an MI6 agent named George Kennedy Young, should be seen as a pivotal point not only in Iran’s developments but also in West Asia at that time; after this coup, Iran officially became an American puppet government tasked with implementing U.S. policies in the region [14].
The U.S. no longer wanted to bear the costs of securing the Persian Gulf and, more broadly, West Asia on its own, and instead considered this responsibility to fall on Iran. In reality, both Israel and Iran acted as the U.S. arms in the region, particularly in countering the Soviet Union, and the strategy of fostering closer ties between Iran and Israel was also in line with the U.S. desires. This was because Israel, at the time, was under pressure from regional countries, especially the Arab states, and many of its plans were advanced through Baha’i Iranians, whose Jewish connections have been previously discussed. The SAVAK (Organization of Intelligence and National Security) was established in line with this policy. The covert agents of this organization were initially trained by CIA operatives and, following a new strategy, by Israeli Mossad agents [15]. Regarding the intertwined relationship between Israel, the Pahlavi regime, and the Baha’i faith, it should be noted that the majority of SAVAK agents were Baha’is. SAVAK detained any religious movement that opposed the Pahlavi regime and subjected them to the most horrific torture or execution. This security organization was formed in 1956 to suppress public protests against the Pahlavi regime in their infancy [16] [17].
The only religious group immune to this organization was the Hojjatiyeh Society, which, ironically, according to historical accounts, cooperated well with SAVAK in arresting activists. As mentioned earlier, the Baha’i faith was not successful in Iran, and the general public was aware of its Jewish and hollow nature. Consequently, to distance people, especially the youth, from the clergy and the movement against imperialism, another plan was necessary, and this role and plan were assigned to the Hojjatiyeh sect—a religious group that fought against the Baha’i faith [18]. While they spoke of love for the Imam of the Time (Imam Mahdi), they made no effort to remove the obstacles to his advent or to overthrow the oppressive regime. In fact, they opposed any efforts or plans to establish an Islamic government [19], [20], [21].
The Struggle Against Israel’s Influence in Iran: The Beginning of Imam Khomeini’s Fight Against Zionism and Global Imperialism
The misguided sects of Babism and Bahá’ism were condemned by the clergy and the people from the very beginning. However, due to the support of the Pahlavi regime for Bahá’ism and their self-serving and imperialistic agendas, which were in complete contradiction to Islam and the beliefs of Iranian Muslims, the struggle against Bahá’ism took on a more serious form during the Pahlavi era. The late Ayatollah Borujerdi was a pioneering scholar in this struggle, and after his demise, Imam Khomeini continued this fight [22].
The first official confrontation between Imam Khomeini and the Pahlavi regime occurred during the approval of the Provincial and State Associations Bill in October 1962. This bill pertained to the election of officials for provincial and county positions, and under its new conditions, the requirements of being Muslim, swearing on the Quran, and the gender of the elected officials were removed. According to this law, Baha’is could easily assume governmental positions more than ever before. Imam Khomeini, who was aware of the underlying Israel’s influence in the Pahlavi regime under the guise of the Baha’i faith and their colonial objectives, strongly opposed this bill. Through Imam Khomeini’s enlightenment, other scholars of the Qom Seminary also individually telegrammed the Shah, expressing their serious opposition to the bill. The corrupt nature of this bill, particularly the role of the U.S. and Israel in it, was exposed to people through the efforts of scholars across the country [23], [24], [25].
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who owed his throne to Americans, during a trip to the United States in March 1962, planned the White Revolution, which aimed at implementing American reforms in Iran. This reform had six components that, on the surface, seemed beneficial to the peasantry but, in reality, served the wealthy class of society and pursued other hidden agendas. Clerics opposed these land reforms from the very beginning, which had previously been proposed and executed by the then Prime Minister Ali Amini. However, despite opposition from the clerics, including Imam Khomeini, the Shah held a referendum for his White Revolution on January 26, 1963, and later it was announced that nearly five million people participated in this referendum! Interestingly, the President of the United States immediately sent a congratulatory message to the Shah after this referendum, congratulating him on this great victory! Meanwhile, according to Imam Khomeini’s statements, the majority of society lacked the necessary qualifications to vote on this issue because they did not have enough awareness and education about it. Imam Khomeini provided multiple reasons, aside from religious objections, to reject this referendum [26], [27].
A few days before the referendum, on January 9, 1964, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, during his visit to Qom in an attempt to win the favor of the people and the clergy, faced empty streets and a lack of public support. In his speech in Qom, he insulted the clergy in the worst way, to the extent that many of his remarks were censored by radio and television [28].
Despite the Shah’s wishes, people, dissatisfied with the referendum and its outcome, did not celebrate Nowruz that year and declared public mourning. The reason for this mourning was the insult and disregard for Islamic laws and the questioning of Iran’s independence. The Pahlavi regime, aware of the enlightenment of the people by the clerics during these ceremonies, ordered an attack on the mourning people at the Feyziyeh School in Qom. Consequently, SAVAK agents attacked on March 22, 1963, coinciding with the martyrdom of Imam Sadiq [29].
After this incident, public sentiment against the Pahlavi regime intensified significantly. On June 3, 1963, despite the regime’s efforts, Imam Khomeini went to the Feyziyeh School and delivered his historic speech against the Pahlavi regime, Bahá’ism, and Israel. In this speech, he revealed the underlying actions of the Shah, namely Abdu’l-Bahá and Israel. He urged the Shah not to be a puppet of imperialists and not to allow Bahá’í beliefs to be imposed on him. Following this speech, the Pahlavi regime arrested Imam Khomeini and transferred him to Tehran for imprisonment. On June 5, 1963, people spontaneously shut down markets and held widespread protests in Tehran, Qom, and other cities to express their opposition to this action by the Shah. The demonstrations of June 5 and 6 (known as 15th of Khordad usprising) were brutally suppressed by the orders of Asadollah Alam, the then Prime Minister, resulting in thousands being killed by government forces [30].
The Role of the Baha’I Faith in Suppressing the 15th Khordad Uprising
The role of Bahá’ís in suppressing the 15th Khordad uprising is an undeniable reality. Major General Parviz Khosrowani, the special aide to the Shah, Farah, and one of the active and influential leaders and propagators of Bahá’ism in Iran, was appointed as the commander of the Gendarmerie of Tehran (District One) to suppress the uprising. Among those arrested and executed by the government during this time were Hajj Ismail Razei and Teyyeb Hajj Razei. These two had previously destroyed the cemetery of Golestan-e-Javid, associated with the Bahá’ís, during the struggle against Bahá’ism in the time of Ayatollah Borujerdi; they built a mosque named “Sahib al-Zaman” right across from the Pepsi Cola company owned by Bahá’ís, as a rebuff to the misguided Bahá’í faith. After the 15th Khordad uprising, Bahá’ís seized the opportunity for revenge, leveraging Israel’s influence in the Pahlavi government and SAVAK to martyr these two individuals, and subsequently celebrated it [31].
After this event, the struggle of Imam Khomeini and Iranian people against the Pahlavi regime, as a puppet government of America and Israel, began openly. This struggle, marked by numerous ups and downs, ultimately culminated in the victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran on February 11, 1979. This Revolution left the project of Israel’s influence in the Pahlavi regime incomplete and once again proved that God uses the weapons and strengths of the false front to eradicate themselves and benefit the party of truth [32].
The Islamic Revolution of Iran achieved victory under circumstances where the U.S. intended to turn Iran into the gendarmerie of West Asia. Today, this Revolution has become the cornerstone of the entire resistance front. As Imam Khomeini stated:
Our revolution is not confined to Iran. The revolution of the people of Iran is the starting point of the grand revolution of the Muslim world under the stewardship of Promised Mahdi (may our souls be his ransom). May God would grant to all Muslims and people of the world and let his reappearance take place at the present age. [33]
Conclusion
In conclusion, Israel’s influence in the Pahlavi regime and the infiltration of Baha’is reveal the complexities of foreign influence in Iran’s political landscape. The strategic partnership facilitated by the Pahlavi regime not only undermined Iranian sovereignty but also catalyzed a significant backlash, culminating in the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Imam Khomeini’s relentless struggle against Zionism and imperialism galvanized public sentiment and paved the way for a new political order. The revolution marked a pivotal moment, disrupting Israel’s plans for influence in Iran and repositioning the country as a leader in the Islamic resistance movement. As history has shown, the legacy of this struggle continues to resonate, reinforcing the notion that the fight against oppression and foreign dominance remains a central theme in Iran’s contemporary identity and politics.
References
[1]. Esmaeili, Hamidreza. The Baha’i Political Organization 1892-1979. Tehran, 2022, 130.
[2]. “Baha’ism and the coup d’état of February 23, 1921.” Bahaism in Iran, 2015; “The role of the Baha’i elements in the third coup.” Bahaism in Iran, 2024.
[3]. “who introduced Reza Khan to the English?” Bahaism in Iran, 2024.
[4]. “Bahaism Website in Iran”. Bahaism Iran, http://old.bahaismiran.com/index.php/.
[5]. Roshangarmedia. September 2024, https://roshangarmedia.com/1403/06/07/.
[6]. Esmaeili, 2022: 175.
[7]. “The Founders of Bahaism Cult, the Starters of Unveiling in Iran.” Bahaism Iran, 16 July 2024, https://bahaismiran.com/?p=13724&lang=en.
[8]. “Veil Fighting Baha’ism.” Bahaism Iran, 21 July 2022.
[9]. “Internal and organizational developments of the Baha’i Faith”. Bahaism in Iran, 2024; Chaman Khah, Leyla. “The policies of Pahlavi government concerning Baha’ism (1332-1357 S.H.).” Bahaism in Iran, 2022.
[10]. “Beit al-Adl on the bloodline.” Bahai Fact, 2024.
[11]. https://fa.wiki.khomeini.ir/wiki/
[12]. https://farsnews.ir/Culture/1622867700000603840/
[12]. Sadeghi, Maryam. “The Baha’i Sedition and the 28 Mordad Coup.” Bahaism in Iran, 2022.
[13]. Musavizade, Mohsen. “The relationship between Pahlavi II and the Zionist Regime” Jewish Studies Center, 2016.
[14]. Ibid.
[15]. “The Baha’i torturers of SAVAK.” Bahaism in Iran, 2021.
[16]. “SAVAK and Baha’ism.” Bahaism in Iran, 2023.
[17]. https://bahaismiran.com/?p=13317&lang=en
[18]. https://bahaismiran.com/?p=12706&lang=en
[19]. Ronen A. Cohen (2013), The Hojjatiyeh Society in Iran, p 67-81.
[21]. Mohammadi, Moslem. “An Analytical Re-examination of the Role of Ayatollah Borujerdi and Imam Khomeini in the Struggle Against Islamophobia and the Influence of Baha’is in the Pahlavi Government.” ISLAMIC REVOLUTION STUDIES, A Quarterly Scientific / Research Journal. 25 (2011): vol. 8.
[22]. “Passing Eyalati and Velayati associations law a means to empower Baha’ism.” Bahaism in Iran, 2021.
[23] Khosravani, Parviz. “The Figures of the Pahlavi Era According to SAVAK Documents“. The Center of Historical Documents Survey. (2010): 83-85.
[24]. https://farsnews.ir/Culture/1622867700000603840/
[25]. https://fa.wiki.khomeini.ir/wiki/ / https://farsnews.ir/Culture/1622867700000603840/
[26]. Ibid.
[27]. https://fa.wikifeqh.ir/
[28]. Ibid.
[29]. Ibid.
[30]. Ibid.
[31]. “The role of the Baha’i cult in the massacre of Iranian people on solar month of Khordad 15, 1342.” Bahaism in Iran, 2023.
[32]. http://staticsml.imam-khomeini.ir/en/File/NewsAttachment/2014/1715-Sahifeh-ye%20Imam-Vol%2021.pdf, p. 351
