Reza Fallah

Reza Fallah (1909–1982) was an Iranian businessman and political advisor. He shaped the Iranian oil policy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

Reza Fallah
The grave of Reza Fallah in Brookwood Cemetery
BornSeptember 15, 1909
Kashan, Iran
DiedDecember 5, 1982(1982-12-05) (aged 73)
Windsor, London, England
EducationUniversity of Birmingham
OccupationBusinessman, political advisor
Spouse(s)Maheen Fallah
ChildrenLilly Fallah Lawrence
Gina Fallah.

Early life

Reza Fallah was born on September 15, 1909, in Kashan, Iran.[1][2] He graduated from high school in Tehran.[2] He studied Petroleum Engineering at the University of Birmingham in England on a British Petroleum scholarship, receiving a PhD.[1][2]

Career

In 1939, he returned to Iran and worked in the private sector.[2] He then taught and served as Dean of the Abadan Technical Institute.[2]

In the 1950s and 1960s, he served as general manager the Abadan Refinery, formerly owned by the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company.[1][3] He served as deputy chairman of the National Iranian Oil Company from 1974 to 1979.[1] During that time, he advised Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and essentially shaped Iran's oil policy.[1] He was also a co-founder of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).[3]

During the Iranian revolution of 1979, he accompanied the Shah into exile.[1] He refused to return to Iran, despite being summoned by Prime Minister Mehdi Bazargan.[1][3] Indeed, he was on Ayatollah Khomeini's death list.[3]

Personal life

He was married to Maheen Fallah (1919–2000).[1] They had three daughters: Lilly Fallah Lawrence and Gina "Kooky" Fallah.[1] A third daughter died in a car accident when they were living in Tehran.[2]

Death

He died on December 5, 1982, in Windsor, near London, England.[1] He is buried in Brookwood Cemetery.

References
  1. Reza Fallah Dies at 73; Ex - Iranian Oil Official, The New York Times, December 16, 1982
  2. Abbas Milani, Eminent Persians, Syracuse, New York: Syracuse University Press, 2008, pp. 139-142
  3. Jack Anderson, Architect of Iranian Oil Industry Dies Quietly, The Dispatch, December 28, 1892
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