Abbas-Ali Khalatbari

Abbas Ali Khalatbari (; 1912 – 11 April 1979), also known as Abbas Ali Khal'atbari, was an Iranian diplomat, who served as the minister of foreign affairs from 1971 to 1978. He was among the significant diplomats who shaped the foreign relations of Iran during the reign of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

Khalatbari pursued his education in Paris where he received a degree in political science from the Faculty of Law and Economics of Paris in 1936, and a PhD degree in law in 1938.

Career Khalatbari was a career diplomat. He began his career in the finance ministry in 1940 and then joined the foreign ministry in 1942. Khalatbari was in office until January 1968 when Turgut Menemencioglu succeeded him in the post. From 1968 to 1970 he served as the deputy minister of foreign affairs.

Khalatbari was appointed foreign minister to the cabinet led by Prime Minister Amir Abbas Hoveyda on 13 September 1971, replacing Ardeshir Zahedi in the post. Khalatbari paid an official visit to Israel in 1977 as a guest of his Israeli counterpart Yigal Allon. Khalatbari was a member of the Commission on Musa Sadr established in 1977 to make a decision about the fate of Musa Al Sadr, a Lebanon-based influential Shia figure. The commission concluded that Al Sadr should be an agent for Iran. Khalatbari served in the post until 27 August 1978 when Amir Khosrow Afshar was named as the minister of foreign affairs. Although being loyal to the Shah, Khalatbari learned his removal from the early morning radio news.

Later years and death Following the Iranian Revolution in February 1979 Khalatbari was arrested and sentenced to death on the charges of corruption on earth; membership of the former regime, being a minister of the former government, being a SAVAK agent, being member of a government delegation acting against the interests of the nation; being employed by the CIA; treason, acting against the interest of the people, acting against the security of the nation". He was also charged with allowing the SAVAK agents to be employed as diplomats in different embassies of the Imperial Iran. He reportedly said that he had to do so. Shortly before his execution, a written statement of Khalatbari's reports in the court was issued, claiming that the ousted Shah had "personally" killed many people.

Honors Khalatbari was the recipient of Homayoun First Class and Taj Third Class honors.