He further stated that a military mission is not predicated upon having to kill someone, and even though he had never participated in the [Tehran] Military Command’s [mission], he believed that the laws and regulations governing the Military Command were conditioned upon rendering the country safe and restoring security, not killing the people. He continued: “The Imperial Guard’s [duty] is to protect royal palaces and the royal family. However, an order had been issued by the General Staff Headquarters that ten tanks and a squadron be put at the disposal of the Military Command.
I never had command of that group and their operations. The duty of those under my command was to guard the palaces. In accordance with the laws and regulations, the military never involved itself in politics, because if it wanted to get involved in politics, each [commander] taking the side of a different policy, they could cause chaos with the weapons they have in their control. Like other military personnel, I did not have the right to get involved in politics.”
