Correct Answer:
B. Iran
The correct answer is Iran. SAVAK (Sazman-e Ettela'at va Amniyat-e Keshvar) was the notorious secret police and intelligence agency of Imperial Iran during the reign of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
SAVAK: The Shah's Iron Fist
- Establishment and Training: Founded in 1957 with substantial assistance from the CIA and Israel's Mossad, SAVAK was designed to protect the monarchy and suppress internal dissent. Its methods included surveillance, torture, and arbitrary imprisonment.
- Role in Society: SAVAK infiltrated every segment of Iranian society — universities, media, labor unions, and even the armed forces — to root out opponents of the Shah. It was deeply feared and became a symbol of state repression.
- Fall During the Revolution: During the 1979 Islamic Revolution, SAVAK headquarters were attacked, and the organization was dismantled. Many of its officials fled or were executed. It was replaced by the SAVAMA (later VEVAK) under the new Islamic Republic.
- Distinguishing from Neighbours: Iraq had the dreaded Mukhabarat under Saddam Hussein, Turkey had the MIT, and Afghanistan had KHAD. None of these were SAVAK, which is specifically tied to pre-revolutionary Iran.
Hence, SAVAK was the secret agency of pre-revolutionary Iran.