Post-Revolutionary Intensification
The hypothesis of murder gained further traction after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Revolutionary groups eager to vilify the Shah’s regime amplified the rumors, accusing SAVAK of orchestrating Takhti’s death. In 1979, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) directly implicated Ali Abdoh, a prominent figure with ties to the regime, in Takhti’s alleged murder.
In April 2019, Alireza Zakani, a former member of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, revisited the controversy. He dismissed the idea of suicide, claiming instead that Takhti had been “martyred.” Zakani shared a personal anecdote, stating: “I heard from my father, who knew the late Takhti closely and said at the funeral and in the funeral home that he was martyred. My father was responsible for organizing the late Takhti’s funeral for nearly three decades after the revolution. I am saying this from my father, who was in this movement.” Zakani’s remarks reignited public interest and further entrenched the belief in a state-sponsored assassination.
Public Reaction
The announcement of Takhti’s death sent shockwaves through Iran. News spread rapidly through radio broadcasts, newspapers, and television, plunging the nation into grief. Word of mouth amplified the sorrow, and within minutes of the discovery of Takhti’s body, Tehran was awash in mourning.
The collective grief transcended the capital. Cities across the country were engulfed in sorrow, with people taking to the streets to express their anguish. Thousands gathered at the forensic medicine office in Tehran within hours of the news. Schoolgirls and university students abandoned their classes and marched toward the courthouse, chanting slogans that demanded justice and accountability. Many called for the punishment of those they believed responsible for Takhti’s death, whether directly or indirectly.