Darioush Bayandor
Encyclopedia
Darioush Bayandor is a former Iran
ian diplomat and official who worked for the government of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
. Following the Iranian Revolution
, he left Iran to work for the United Nations
in the 1980s and 1990s before retiring to Switzerland where he writes and consults.
Born in Iran, Bayandor served as a senior diplomat of the Iranian government in New York City
and Tehran
in the 1970s. He was the director of the regional bureau for the Americas in the Iran foreign ministry and served as foreign-affairs adviser to two prime ministers of Imperial State of Iran. From 1975 he served on Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations
(UN). In 1980, Bayandor joined the UN and led several regional offices in Asia, Europe and Africa. In the 1990s he was the regional coordinator for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
in refugee-heavy areas such as Bangladesh
and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and he served in the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
.
In 2006, Bayandor wrote "Hafez: A Face-Off With Virtue" about the famous 14th century Iranian lyric poet, Hafez
. His book Iran and The CIA: The Fall of Mosaddeq Revisited, was published in 2010. The book has received mixed reviews, with the Economist and Washington Times describing it as "revisionist". Homa Katouzian
, a historian and political scientist, dismissed the book as "political". Washington Times criticized the book stating that "a careful reading of Mr. Bayandor's book, along with the CIA history and Mr. Roosevelt's memoir, shows that there is a very thin element of truth in his revisionist theory". However, The Economist
and World Affairs were more complimentary, the former noting that "Bayandor's scepticism is a useful antidote to Roosevelt's self-aggrandising, which some later writers have mimicked uncritically".
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian diplomat and official who worked for the government of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, Shah of Persia , ruled Iran from 16 September 1941 until his overthrow by the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979...
. Following the Iranian Revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
, he left Iran to work for the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in the 1980s and 1990s before retiring to Switzerland where he writes and consults.
Born in Iran, Bayandor served as a senior diplomat of the Iranian government in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
in the 1970s. He was the director of the regional bureau for the Americas in the Iran foreign ministry and served as foreign-affairs adviser to two prime ministers of Imperial State of Iran. From 1975 he served on Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
(UN). In 1980, Bayandor joined the UN and led several regional offices in Asia, Europe and Africa. In the 1990s he was the regional coordinator for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees , also known as The UN Refugee Agency is a United Nations agency mandated to protect and support refugees at the request of a government or the UN itself and assists in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to...
in refugee-heavy areas such as Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and he served in the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs , is a United Nations body formed in December 1991 by General Assembly Resolution 46/182...
.
In 2006, Bayandor wrote "Hafez: A Face-Off With Virtue" about the famous 14th century Iranian lyric poet, Hafez
Hafez
Khwāja Shamsu d-Dīn Muhammad Hāfez-e Shīrāzī , known by his pen name Hāfez , was a Persian lyric poet. His collected works composed of series of Persian poetry are to be found in the homes of most Iranians, who learn his poems by heart and use them as proverbs and sayings to this day...
. His book Iran and The CIA: The Fall of Mosaddeq Revisited, was published in 2010. The book has received mixed reviews, with the Economist and Washington Times describing it as "revisionist". Homa Katouzian
Homa Katouzian
Homa Katouzian, PhD is an economist, historian, political scientist and literary critic, with a special interest in Iranian studies. Katouzian’s formal academic training was in economics and the social sciences but he concurrently continued his studies of Persian history and literature at a...
, a historian and political scientist, dismissed the book as "political". Washington Times criticized the book stating that "a careful reading of Mr. Bayandor's book, along with the CIA history and Mr. Roosevelt's memoir, shows that there is a very thin element of truth in his revisionist theory". However, The Economist
The Economist
The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
and World Affairs were more complimentary, the former noting that "Bayandor's scepticism is a useful antidote to Roosevelt's self-aggrandising, which some later writers have mimicked uncritically".
External links
- iran-etude, Bayandor's blog in English, French and Persian languages
- Iran-Etudes, Bayandor's French language blog