When Mossadegh was overthrown in August 1953, Batmanghelidj returned to the army. He was the chief of staff of the armed forces between 1953 and 1955. Although not assigned by the government, Batmanghelidj and Teymur Bakhtiar, military governors of Capital, participated in the destruction of the National Baha’i Center in Capital on May 22, 1955. They took part in the destruction of the building along with the religious leaders. Batmanghelidj became the first Iranian ambassador to Pakistan when he was appointed to the post in 1955, which he held until 1957.