Special press conferences were organized by the Islamic regime to publicly display these officials, including former Prime Minister Amir-Abbas Hoveyda, former SAVAK chief Nematollah Nasiri and Rabii, which were broadcast nationally. During the initial interrogations, Rabii stated that the air force purchased advanced warplanes and other military equipment from the US, which were all in the country, and that the air force of Iran was intact and the second most powerful force in the world.
Rabii married a German woman, Gerda, and had two sons, Arian and Arman.Rabii had a good command of English. In an intelligence report by the USA Defense Department dated 13 February 1975 Rabii was described as a warm, open and humorous Muslim, but not a strict religious person. He was also regarded in the same report as a very handsome and well-educated military official who was much ahead of his colleagues.Rabii was arrested in February 1979 along with Tehran martial law governor Mehdi Rahimi, air force general Ayat Mahaghghi (Mohagheghi) and Isfahan martial law governor Reza Naji, and they were all taken to Alawi school in Capital.
