History Was Made

The core of the Imperial Guard was the all volunteer Javidan Guard, also known as the "Immortals" after the ancient Persian royal guard or Persian Immortals. The "Immortals" were based in the Lavizan Barracks in northern Tehran. By 1978 this elite force comprised a brigade of 4,000-5,000 men, including a battalion of Chieftain tanks. It was responsible for the internal and external security of the royal palaces. A special plain-clothes unit was called Ma'mourin Makhsous. From 1968 the Javidan Guard included a 30-strong Pahlavi Cavalry Guard - a Household Cavalry unit. The last Commanding Officer of the Javidan Guard was Lieutenant-Colonel Yusuf-i-nijad.
By 1978 the 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 capital Tehran.

Overthrow of the Shah

The Imperial Guard remained loyal to the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi until his departure for exile in January 1979. After two days of fighting (9-11 February) with armed civilians and dissident air force and army personnel the Imperial Guard was withdrawn to its bases and thereafter largely disintegrated. The Javidan Guard was formally dissolved by the new Iranian regime, though some units of the wider Imperial Guard remained in existence.
Following the revolution the remaining units of the Imperial Guard were stripped of their historic privileges and duties and integrated into the 21st Division of the regular army (Artesh). As such they saw action in the Iran-Iraq war.

Commanders of the Imperial Guard

The last Commander of the Imperial Guard, General Ali Neshat was executed as were a number of other officers and guardsmen. The former included several former Guard Commanders, such as Lieutenant General Abdul Ali Badrehi (1965-78), who had risen to be Commander of Ground Forces. General Gholam Ali Oveisi, (Imperial Guard Commander 1960-65), subsequently became Chief of the Army Staff before being made Military Governor of Tehran in 1978. He was appointed Minister of labor and Social Affairs from 1978-79 and was assassinated in 1984 in Paris.

Sarbazan's Mission Statement:

Road to Democracy:
1. Removal of the theology state in Iran
2. After removal of the theology state in Iran, there shall be a national referendum to determine type of state in Iran Constitutional Monarchy or Republic
3. Reestablishing a secular state in Iran
4. Restoring lion and sun flag

Road to Justice:
5. Reestablishing rule of law and order under Constitutional Law
6. Respecting and recognizing diversity of Iran; such as, ethnicity, and faith groups
7. Respecting and recognizing gender equality
8. Justice for victim of Islamic Republic of Iran

Eradicating Terrorism:
9. Respecting and recognizing integrity of national boundaries of Iran
10. Respecting and recognizing sovereignty of other nations

Sarbazan's Goal to Achieve:
1. Apprehension of those responsible, as well as, accountable for execution of unsung heroes
2. Providing some kind of disclosure to surviving families
3. Applying public pressure on Western nations not to develop ties with the cleric regime in Iran