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| Imperial Guard of Iran | |
|---|---|
 Logo of the Iranian Imperial Guard | |
| Active | 1942–1979 |
| Country | Imperial State of Persia |
| Allegiance | Shah of Persia |
| Size | 18,000 |
| Garrison/HQ | Tehran |
| Colors | light red, blue and silver |
| Engagements | Iranian Revolution |
| Commanders | |
| General Officer | Ali Neshat |
| Chief of Staff | Abbas Gharabaghi |
| Part ofa series on |
| Iran's regular military |
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| History |
TheImmortal Guard of Imperial Iran (Persian:یگان جاویدان شاهنشاهی ایران,romanized: gârd-e jâvidân-e šâhənšâhi-e irân), also known asImperial Guard (Persian:یگان شاهنشاهی,romanized: gārd-e šāhanšāhi), was both the personal guard force ofMohammad Reza Pahlavi, the lastShah ofIran, and an elite combat branch of theImperial Iranian Army. It was created in 1942 and disbanded in 1979 following theIranian Revolution. It was named after theImmortals, an elite unit of 10,000Persian soldiers in the army of theAchaemenid Empire.
In 1921 a Persian Royal Guard was in existence comprising 20,000 men. A Guard Division was raised in 1925 byReza Shah, incorporating both cavalry and infantry units. The Imperial Guard was subsequently formed in 1942 from 700 volunteers. It was originally designed and organized by General Jafar Shafaghat. The division was modeled after the FrenchRepublican Guard and the BritishHousehold Cavalry andfoot guards. In 1953 the unit was expanded in size to adivision under GeneralTeymur Bakhtiar. In 1972 the Lashkari Guard Division was incorporated in the Imperial Guard together with a Conscript Brigade, expanding the Guard to a full corps of two divisions.
The core of the Imperial Guard was the all volunteerJavidan Guard (Gârd e Jâvidân,Persian:Immortal Guard), better known as the "Immortals" after the ancientPersian royal guard orPersian Immortals. The "Immortals" were based in the Lavizan Barracks in northernTehran.[1] By 1978 this elite force comprised abrigade of 4,000–5,000 men, including abattalion ofChieftain tanks. It was responsible for the internal and external security of the royal palaces. A special plain-clothes unit was called Ma'mourin Makhsous (Special Agents)
Prior to the 1967 Imperial Coronation a Pahlavi Cavalry Guard was formed, giving the Javidan Guard aHousehold Cavalry type mounted escort unit for ceremonial occasions. According to differing accounts this detachment was 30 to 50-strong.
The last Commanding Officer of the Javidan Guard was Lieutenant-Colonel Yusuf-i-nijad.
By the late 1970s the entire Imperial Guard (including conscripts outside the Javidan units) was 18,000 strong, with artillery, armored and helicopter units. The entire Guard comprised some 6% of the army, and were the only troops stationed permanently in the capitalTehran.
A recruit to the Imperial Guard had to pass a series of proficiency tests, varying in subjects and difficulty. Reportedly[by whom?] one of the prerequisites for initiation was to be able to recite one's family history back for 23 generations from memory alone[citation needed].
Imperial Guard units were distinguished bysalmon (light red) coloured insignia. The Pahlavi Cavalry Guard had special blue and red ceremonial uniforms, including silvercuirasses and crested helmets.
The Imperial Guard remained loyal toMohammad Reza Pahlavi until his departure for exile in January 1979. After two days of fighting from the 9th through 11 February, against armed civilians and dissidentAir Force andArmy personnel, the Imperial Guard was withdrawn to its bases. The Guard was disbanded on 17 February 1979.[2] The Javidan Guard was formally dissolved by the new Iranian regime, although some portions of the wider Imperial Guard remained in existence. These remaining units were stripped of their historical privileges and duties and integrated into the21st Division of the regularArmy Ground Forces. They saw action in theIran–Iraq War.
The last commander of the Imperial Guard at the time of the 1979 Iranian Revolution was Lieutenant GeneralAli Neshat.[3] One of the former Guard commanders was GeneralGholam Ali Oveisi (1960–1965). One of the original commanders, GeneralJafar Shafaghat, during the last months prior to the fall of the monarchy in 1979 was appointed by the Shah as the minister of defense (the literal translation of this post fromPersian is minister of war) underShapour Bakhtiar Cabinet until the fall of the government.
Commanders of the unit were:
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