Katayoon Ansari-Biglari

A chance encounter diverted Abdolreza Ansari from completing his doctorate in the US, and set him on a professional journey which mirrored the prolific rise and the precipitous fall of the regime of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi of Iran. Appointed a cabinet minister at the age of just 34, Ansari consistently and methodically used his skills in an attempt to institute modern managerial systems and solid foundations in his various assignments. He went on to have a high-ranking ministerial career ending up in the all-important role of Minister of Interior. His appointment as Managing Director of the Imperial Organisation for Social Services placed him at the centre of power, giving him extraordinary insights into the Iranian political scene of that era. Ansari’s proximity to the Iranian royal court, his encounters with a multitude of well-known personalities and his perceptions of the political culture in 1970s Tehran make this book an important historical source and a fascinating portrayal of the inner workings of the Shah’s Iran.