Lieutenant General Haj Ali Kia (born 1285 in Lashkar) was one of the most enigmatic and influential figures in the Imperial Land Forces of Iran during the mid-20th century. Rising through the ranks of the Iranian military and ultimately playing a key role in the intelligence apparatus of the Pahlavi regime, Kia’s life was marked by military excellence, political maneuvering, accusations of corruption, and clandestine operations. His most notable contribution to Iranian military and intelligence history was co-founding the Kook Intelligence and Security Organization alongside Major General Hassan Pakravan, which predated the notorious SAVAK.
Haj Ali Kia was born in 1285 (1906 or 1907 in the Gregorian calendar) in Lashkar. His father, Taher Kia Lashkar, also known as Haji Pirzadeh, was a wealthy landowner from Mazandaran. Coming from a prominent family with significant financial influence, Kia had the social and economic platform that allowed him early entry into military service. With a passion for national service and a sharp intellect, Kia joined the army at a young age. Early in his career, he was selected as a weapons procurement officer and dispatched to Europe, holding the rank of first lieutenant.