The collection relates to the Iranian revolution of 1979, subsequent political conditions and civil rights abuses in Iran, the Iran-Iraq War, Iranians in the United States and elsewhere, and American foreign policy toward Iran. It contains correspondence, press releases, appeals, clippings, speeches and writings, financial records, reports, bulletins, newsletters, pamphlets, serial issues, photographs, sound recordings, and videotapes. The collection includes some personal papers, 1966-1980, of Ali A. Tabatabai, founder of the organization, and material relating to his assassination.

The Iran Freedom Foundation (IFF) was formed in Bethesda, Maryland in October 1979. Prior to establishing the IFF, the organization's founder and president, Ali Akbar Tabatabai worked as director of the Foreign Relations Department of the Ministry of Information in Tehran and press attaché at the Iranian embassy in Washington, D.C., in the final years of the Shah's reign and under the leadership of Ambassador Ardeshir Zahedi (1977-1979). Ali Akbar Tabatabai was assassinated in July 1980 by Daoud Salahuddin (David Belfield) at the front door of his home in Maryland. After his assassination, Ali Akbar's identical twin brother, Mohammad Reza, took over the operations of the IFF.

60 manuscript boxes, 3 cassette boxes, 1 open reel box, 3 oversize audio boxes, 1 oversize box, 1 oversize folder (27.8 Linear Feet)

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.