Donation of Confidential Documents by Ardshir Zahedi to a University in the U.S.

Ardshir Zahedi, Iran's Foreign Minister during Mohammad Reza Shah's reign and former ambassador to the U.S., recently donated all his confidential documents to Stanford University in the United States. These documents, which include hundreds of letters and secret correspondence between the Shah and the former Iranian Foreign Ministry and court, have been entrusted to the university for future publication. In an interview with Hossein Ghavimi from Radio Farda, Zahedi explained his motivations for donating these documents to Stanford. He expressed his love for universities and libraries, stating that he wanted to ensure the documents would not decay or be destroyed. After extensive consideration, he decided to donate them to Stanford's Hoover Institution, which has a significant collection of documents and books. Zahedi clarified that he established a contract regarding the publication of these documents, allowing for certain parts to be released immediately while others may remain confidential for a specified period. He noted that his decision was influenced by personal health issues and a desire for the younger generation to understand their history. When asked about the most important or confidential document in the collection, he mentioned both political and financial matters, indicating that some documents contained sensitive negotiations and communications from his time in office.