Reza Azimi (; 1 August 1909 – 8 September 1999,) was a senior military officer during the reign of the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. He was a general and held various military and government posts, including commander of the Imperial Iranian Ground Forces and minister of war.
Biography Early life Reza Azimi was born in Tehran on 1 August 1909. He completed his primary education at Qajariyeh School and his secondary education at Firouz School before graduating from the Military School. He came from a military family; among his relatives were Brigadier General Farajollah Iravani, Lieutenant General Amir Ahmadi, Brigadier General Heydar Gholi Pesyan, and other military officers.مصاحبه با عظیمی، ارتشبد رضا - بنیاد مطالعات ایران - تاریخ شفاهی
Education After completing the two-year program at the Officers' Academy, Azimi graduated in 1930 with the rank of Second Lieutenant. He also completed the advanced course at the War College in 1940.شرح حال رجال سیاسی و نظامی معاصر ایران جلد دوم ص ۱۰۱۰ - باقر عاقلیمصاحبه با عظیمی، ارتشبد رضا - بنیاد مطالعات ایران - تاریخ شفاهی
Military Career Azimi began his career in the Army Ground Forces. In 1947, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel and appointed Chief of Staff of the 2nd Division. After being promoted to Brigadier General, he successively served as commander of the Khoy Brigade, commander of the Tehran Military Police Garrison, head of the Army Personnel Department, director of the Army Inspectorate, and commander of the Western Corps and the Western Army.شرح حال رجال سیاسی و نظامی معاصر ایران جلد دوم ص ۱۰۱۰ - باقر عاقلی
Following the 1953 Iranian coup d'état, Azimi temporarily commanded the disbanded Imperial Guard Division and was responsible for its reorganization.مصاحبه با عظیمی، ارتشبد رضا - بنیاد مطالعات ایران - تاریخ شفاهی
Azimi served as the commander of the Imperial Iranian Ground Forces between 1960 and 1965. He left the office due to illness. Then he was made general adjutant to the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi which he held until 1971.
Later Azimi served as the minister of war between 1971 and 1977 in the cabinet led by Prime Minister Amir-Abbas Hoveyda. He was appointed to the post on 13 September 1971. Azimi was among the nine members of the cabinet who were not Hoveyda's appointees or proteges. His deputy at the ministry was also a retired army officer, Hassan Toufanian. During his tenure Azimi dealt with legislative and budgetary issues, whereas his deputy, Toufanian, was responsible for the procurement of arms in accordance with the Shah's orders.
Azimi retained his post in the succeeding cabinet led by Prime Minister Jamshid Amouzegar between August 1977 and August 1978. Azimi continued to serve in the same post in the cabinet led by Prime Minister Jafar Sharif-Emami. He was also appointed Minister of War in the military government which was formed by Gholam Reza Azhari in November 1978 and lasted until the end of December.
He fled of to Paris, France after the Revolution.
Death General Azimi never married. He died in Paris on 8 September 1999 at the age of 91.
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