{{short description|Iranian politician and cleric (born 1949)|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Ali Fallahian | native_name = {{No bold|{{Script/Nastaliq|علی فلاحیان}}}} | native_name_lang = fa | image = علی فلاحیان3.jpg | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1949|10|23|df=y}}{{citation needed|date=September 2024}} | birth_place = Najafabad, Isfahan, Iran | order2 = Minister of Intelligence of Iran | term_start2 = 29 August 1989 | term_end2 = 20 August 1997 | president2 = Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani | predecessor2 = Mohammad Reyshahri | successor2 = Ghorbanali Dorri-Najafabadi | office3 = Member of the Assembly of Experts | term_start3 = 24 February 2007 | term_end3 = 24 May 2016 | majority3 = 386,767<ref>[http://edalatkhah.parsiblog.com/Posts/15/%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%AC+%D9%86%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%8A%D9%8A+%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA+%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%B1%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%86+%D8%AF%D8%B1+29+%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86/ نتایج نهایی انتخابات خبرگان در ۲۹ استان]</ref> | constituency3 = Khuzestan Province | party = Islamic Republican Party <small>(1979–1987)</small><ref>{{citation|title=نگاهی به سوابق اجرایی نامزدهای ریاست‌جمهوری/ از فرماندهی سپاه تا سابقۀ کمتر از یک سال نمایندگی|url=http://www.entekhab.ir/fa/news/106748/%D9%86%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%82-%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%B2%D8%AF-%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D8%AC%D9%85%D9%87%D9%88%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%87%DB%8C-%D8%B3%D9%BE%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%AA%D8%A7-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%82%D9%87-%DA%A9%D9%85%D8%AA%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%86%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C%D9%86%D8%AF%DA%AF%DB%8C|language=Persian|work=Entekhab|date=4 April 2013|access-date=3 November 2016}}</ref> | alma_mater = Haghani Circle }}

'''Ali Fallahian''' ({{langx|fa|علی فلاحیان}} {{pronunciation|Ali Fallahiyan from Iran pronunciation.ogg|English pronunciation}}, born 1949)<ref name="atoz">FALLAHIAN, ALI (1949– ), in ''The A to Z of Middle Eastern Intelligence'', Ephraim Kahana and Muhammad Suwaed, pp. 85-86, 2009</ref> is an Iranian cleric, judge and politician. He was Iran's second Minister of Intelligence and Security, holding office from 1989 to 1997, during the presidency of Ali Akbar Rafsanjani.

==Early life== Fallahian was born in Najafabad, Iran, in 1949.<ref name="atoz" /> He is a graduate of Haqqani school of theology in Qom.<ref name=mii>{{cite web |title=Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security: A profile |url=https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/9920777|work=Library of Congress, Federal Research Division |accessdate=5 August 2013 |format=Report |date=December 2012}}</ref> A loyal follower of Ayatollah Khomeini, he was under surveillance by the SAVAK and then imprisoned by the Shah for spreading antigovernment propaganda.<ref name="atoz" />

==Career== After the victory of the Iranian Revolution in 1979, Fallahian was appointed a judge in Islamic Revolutionary Courts, and condemned to death by hanging many former officials of the Shah's regime.<ref name="atoz" /> From 1982 to 1984 he was a member of the Leadership of the Komitehs, while from 1984 to 1986 he served as Deputy Minister of Intelligence and Security under Minister Muhammad Reyshahri. From 1986 to 1988, Fallahian was appointed by Ruhollah Khomeini as Chief Prosecutor of the Special Court for the Clergy and led the trial against Mehdi Hashemi, while from 1988 to 1989 he was Head of the Inspectorate of the Armed Forces of Iran.<ref name="atoz" />

From 1989 to 1997, he served as Minister of Intelligence and Security during the presidency of Ali Akbar Rafsanjani.<ref name="atoz" />

Fallahian served as a member of the 3rd Assembly of Experts of the Islamic Republic of Iran. After Fallahian left office, his senior deputy, Saeed Emami, was arrested for the murders of four dissidents in 1998 and 1999, Emami subsequently died in prison in what the authorities declared a suicide. Fallahian began to work in the office of the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.<ref name=bar8>{{cite web|title=Iranian nuclear decision making under Ahmedinejad |url=http://www.herzliyaconference.org/_uploads/2814shmuelbariranianahmadinejad.pdf |work=Lauder School of Government |accessdate=29 August 2013 |author=Shmuel Bar |author2=Shmuel Bacher |author3=Rachel Machtiger |date=January 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402163527/http://www.herzliyaconference.org/_Uploads/2814ShmuelBarIranianAhmadinejad.pdf |archivedate=2 April 2012 }}</ref>

===Presidential candidacy=== Fallahian was a candidate in the 2001 presidential election,<ref name=jim1jun>{{cite news |last=Muir |first=Jim |title=Iran election: People and policies |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1364676.stm |access-date=28 June 2013 |publisher=BBC |date=1 June 2001 |location=Tehran}}</ref> which was won by incumbent reformist Mohammad Khatami. Fallahian came in sixth place, receiving 0.2 percent of the vote; some observers have hypothesized that Fallahian only entered the election in an effort to clear his name, which has been associated with murder and political suppression.<ref name=atlantic />

On 19 February 2013, in Birjand, Fallahian announced his candidacy for the Iranian presidential election, saying that "people's requests to me [had] reached a threshold".<ref name=atlantic>{{cite news |title=An Unlikely Reformist Joins Iran's Presidential Field |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/02/an-unlikely-reformist-joins-irans-presidential-field/273411/ |newspaper=The Atlantic |date=25 February 2013}}</ref> Running with the campaign slogan of "Advanced Islamic Country", he said that his top priority would be the economy, focusing on fighting inflation and lowering the unemployment rate. He specified that he planned on continuing the subsidy reform plan.<ref name=rahimi>{{cite news |last=Rahimi |first=Atefeh |title=Ali Fallahian Running for President of Iran in 2013 |url=http://tehranchronicle.com/ali-fallahian-running-for-president-of-iran-in-2013/329/ |newspaper=Tehran Chronicle |date=19 February 2013 |access-date=4 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221140528/http://tehranchronicle.com/ali-fallahian-running-for-president-of-iran-in-2013/329/ |archive-date=21 February 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Regarding diplomatic relations with the United States, he implied that he would seek improved ties, even suggesting to put an end to the uranium enrichment program, saying "enough of nuclear", as Iran had "already mastered its knowledge". He added that he envisioned chances for cooperation between the two countries, especially in creating stability in Afghanistan, Iraq, Tunisia, and Egypt.<ref name=atlantic /> His nomination was rejected by the Guardian Council.

==Accusations== Fallahian is currently on the official wanted list of Interpol in connection with the bombing of the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA), a Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 18 July 1994, that killed 85 people.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.interpol.int/Public/data/wanted/notices/data/2006/54/2006_34754.asp |title=Wanted profile on Interpol website |access-date=3 March 2008 |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20080303062424/http://www.interpol.int/Public/data/wanted/notices/data/2006/54/2006_34754.asp |archive-date=3 March 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20080301112942/http%3A//www.interpol.int/Public/ICPO/PressReleases/PR2007/PR200754.asp Interpol press release]</ref> The Interpol issued a red notice for him and other suspects for their alleged roles in the attack in March 2007.<ref name=sap16nov>{{cite news |title=Argentina: More international arrest warrants issued for 1994 Jewish center bombing |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/ARGENTINA%3a+MORE+INTERNATIONAL+ARREST+WARRANTS+ISSUED+FOR+1994+JEWISH...-a0171417659 |accessdate=25 March 2013 |work=South American Political and Economic Affairs |date=16 November 2007}}</ref> The arrest warrant is based on the allegation that senior Iranian officials planned the attack in an August 1993 meeting, including Khamanei, the Supreme Leader, Mohammad Hejazi, the then Khamanei's intelligence and security advisor, Rafsanjani, then president, Fallahian, then intelligence minister, and Ali Akbar Velayati, then foreign minister.<ref name=yehudit>{{cite web |last=Barsky |first=Yehudit |title=Hizballah |url=http://www.ajc.org/atf/cf/%7B42D75369-D582-4380-8395-D25925B85EAF%7D/Hizballah_052003.pdf |work=The American Jewish Committee |accessdate=5 August 2013 |format=Terrorism Briefing |date=May 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029184824/http://www.ajc.org/atf/cf/%7B42D75369-D582-4380-8395-D25925B85EAF%7D/Hizballah_052003.pdf |archive-date=29 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In addition, he was the subject of an international arrest warrant issued in 1997 in connection with the murder of three Kurdish-Iranian opposition leaders in the Mykonos restaurant assassinations in Berlin.<ref>[https://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/911622.html Israel fails to prevent Germany freeing Iranian] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090401091011/http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/911622.html |date=1 April 2009 }} ''Haaretz''</ref> Fallahian is under an international warrant issued in 1996 by a German court because of his role in the assassinations.<ref name=mii /><ref>[http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/press/1997/4/415.html Press Conference by the Press Secretary 15 April 1997] Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.</ref> Sadeq Sharafkandi from Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran and three of his colleagues were assassinated September 1992 in Berlin by Iranian-Lebanese agents. Fallahian was also the most prominent member of a group of five Iranians and Lebanese for whom international arrest warrants issued in March 2007.

He was also named by investigative reporter Akbar Ganji as the "master key" of the 1998 "Chain Murders" of four dissident Iranian intellectuals. In December 2000, appearing before an Islamic Revolutionary Court, investigative reporter Akbar Ganji "ending months of guessing and expectations from both the authorities and the public" when he announced the "Master Key" to the chain murders of four dissident Iranian intellectuals was Fallahian.<ref>[http://www.iran-press-service.com/articles_2000/dec_2000/ganji_named_fallahian_11200.htm Ganji Identified Fallahian as the "Master Key" in Chain Murders] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130428020518/http://www.iran-press-service.com/articles_2000/dec_2000/ganji_named_fallahian_11200.htm |date=28 April 2013 }}, ''Iran Press Service''. December 2000.</ref>

Fallahian is also charged by a Swiss court<ref>"[http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/swissinfo.html?siteSect=106&sid=6617021&cKey=1144592966000 Swiss orders arrest of Iranian ex-minister] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930210827/http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/swissinfo.html?siteSect=106&sid=6617021&cKey=1144592966000 |date=30 September 2007 }}" 9 April 2006</ref><ref>[http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200604/10/eng20060410_257175.html Switzerland orders arrest of Iranian ex-minister on murder charges] People's Daily Online</ref> with masterminding the assassination of Kazem Rajavi, a brother of Mujahedin-e Khalq leader Massoud Rajavi, near Geneva in broad daylight by several agents on 24 April 1990.<ref>[http://news3.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-04/10/content_4403509.htm Switzerland orders arrest of Iranian ex-minister on murder charges] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232410/http://news3.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-04/10/content_4403509.htm |date=3 March 2016 }} ''Xinhuanet'' 9 April 2006</ref> An international arrest warrant has been issued against him and as a result, he is unable to leave the country.<ref>"[http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2006/April/middleeast_April249.xml&section=middleeast&col= Iran ex-minister wanted by Swiss in murder of exiled oppn leader] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070708040746/http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data%2Fmiddleeast%2F2006%2FApril%2Fmiddleeast_April249.xml&section=middleeast&col= |date=8 July 2007 }}", ''Khaleej Times Online'', April 2006.</ref>

== See also == * Chain murders of Iran

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category}} * [http://www.iran-press-service.com/articles/fallahian_arrested.html Former intelligence minister Ali Fallahian under house arrest] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303183546/http://www.iran-press-service.com/articles/fallahian_arrested.html |date=3 March 2016 }} * {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070112151042/http://www.iricrimes.org/lr_int.asp?pgn=timemisc Iran's State of Terror]}}

{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{succession box | before = Mohammad Reyshahri | title = Minister of Intelligence of Iran | years = 1989–1997 | after = Ghorbanali Dorri-Najafabadi }} {{s-end}}

{{Intelligence Ministers of Iran}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fallahian, Ali}} Category:1945 births Category:Living people Category:Iranian Shia clerics Category:People from Najafabad Category:Members of the Assembly of Experts Category:Candidates in the 2001 Iranian presidential election Category:Islamic Republican Party politicians Category:Ministers of intelligence of Iran