SAEDNEWS: Excerpts from General Zahedi’s memoir reveal that SAVAK chief Nematollah Nassiri dubbed himself “the Shah’s dog,” epitomizing the depths of court flattery under Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
According to Saed News, here are excerpts from the memoirs of General Ardeshir Zahedi, in which he refers to Nematollah Nassiri, head of SAVAK’s administration, who called himself “the Shah’s dog.”
According to the political desk of Saed News, citing Khabaronline, Ardeshir Zahedi—ambassador of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi—mentions in his memoirs General Nematollah Nassiri:
“General Nassiri (head of SAVAK), instead of attending to his duties, had become a signing machine, while the SAVAK organization was really run by Parviz Sabeti.
Nassiri was busy constructing buildings and engaging in economic activities up in northern Iran and on Kish Island. Another of his failings was his excessive indulgence in wide‑ranging sexual liaisons with women, which occupied his time and distracted him from his official responsibilities.
The Shah liked him because Nassiri called himself ‘the Shah’s dog.’ Calling oneself ‘Chākir’ (servant) was a mark of respect in Persian culture from ancient times—used to show deference and devotion—and remains in use today as a courtly term. But for someone to call himself a ‘dog’ was unacceptable to us.”
Zahedi continues:
“In my lifetime, I have seen two men utterly lacking in character. The first was General Nassiri, who called himself the Shah’s dog; the second was Dr. Eghbāl, who said he was ‘the Shah’s household slave.’
Interestingly, several disputes broke out between Asadollah Alam and Dr. Eghbāl over this terminology. Eghbāl insisted he had coined the term ‘household slave,’ while Alam claimed that his own father had served as the Shah’s ‘household slave’ before him.”
