Sadegh Ghotbzadeh

Sadegh Ghotbzadeh (صادق قطب‌زاده;‎ 1936–September 15, 1982) was Iranian Foreign Minister (November 30, 1979–August, 1980) during Iran hostage crisis. He was a supporter of National Front of Iran and was a close aide of Ayatollah Khomeini when he was in exile in France. He accompanied Khomeini on his travel back to Iran on February 1, 1979. Right after Islamic Revolution of Iran, Ghotbzadeh was appointed as managing director of National Iranian Radio and Television (NIRT) and tried to overhaul it to be in line with Islamic teachings. This was criticised by a group of Iranian intellectuals and also the Interim Government. He was appointed as Foreign Minister when Abolhassan Banisadr resigned as acting Foreign Minister amid heated disputes on fate of American hostages. He later resigned when his diplomatic approach to resolve the crisis ended in a deadlock.

Related Topics:
1936 - September 15 - 1982 - Iranian Foreign Minister - November 30 - 1979 - August - 1980 - Iran hostage crisis - National Front of Iran - Ayatollah Khomeini - France - Khomeini - February 1 - Islamic Revolution of Iran - National Iranian Radio and Television - Islamic - Interim Government - Abolhassan Banisadr - Acting

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In April, 1982 he was arrested among a group of army officers and clerics (including son-in-law of religious leader Ayatollah Kazem Shariatmadari) all accused of plotting for assassination of Khomeini and overthrow of Islamic Republic. He denied the accusations but confirmed existence of a plot, (It was just conversation about a coup d'etat) on changing the government (then led by Ali Khamenei as President). He was sentenced to death and executed on September 15.

Related Topics:
1982 - Kazem Shariatmadari - Ali Khamenei - President - September 15

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It was rumored at the time of Mr. Ghotbzadeh's arrest, that a senior White House official during president Reagan administration had a conversation with Mr. Ghotbzadeh, in which Mr Ghotbzadeh asked whether the USA would support the coup d'etat in Iran, orchestrated by him. That senior white house official who is still part of the US government (president George W. Bush) , at the time relayed that conversation to security officials in Iran. Therefore causing Mr. Ghotbzadeh's arrest, and subsequent murder at the hand of the regime.

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The story about his death, is that Ayatollah Khomeini liked Mr. Ghotbzadeh, enough not to kill him. But Mr. Lajevardi who was the head of the Evin Prision (Later on he was name the butcher of Evin), and disliked Mr. Ghotbzadeh, sent another prisoner (or one of his people dresses as a prisoner), to the same jail room as Mr. Ghotbzadeh. After, he befriended Mr. Ghotbzadeh, he told him, that if Mr. Ghotbzadeh pays a large sum of money , he can secure his freedom, and getting out of the country. When Mr. Ghotbzadeh agreed, and gave contact numbers of his friends in France, Mr. Lajevardi was recording the conversation, and gave the tape to Ayatollah Khomeini, as a show that Mr. Ghotbzadeh is still plotting. He was executed right after that.

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Another story which was told 15 years later explain, that Mr. Ghotbzadeh was just the victim of a

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trap arranged by Tudeh Pary ( the communist party of Iran with close relationship to sowiets ). They saw him as a danger because of his good relationship with americans. With the help of some radical revolutionaries they taped his voice as they talked about the coup d'etat.

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