A Florida federal judge has allowed a lawsuit against Parviz Sabeti, the alleged "chief torturer" for the deposed Shah of Iran, to move closer to trial for human rights abuses. Judge Gregory A Presnell rejected Sabeti's demand to halt the lawsuit, which was brought by three former political prisoners.
Sabeti is accused of being the former head of Savak, the Shah's secret police and intelligence agency. The plaintiffs claim they discovered his whereabouts after a photo of Sabeti at a 2023 protest was posted on social media by his daughter.
Sabeti could face civil claims under the Torture Victim Protection Act (TVPA) as early as next year. These claims allege he directed and participated in the detention and torture of thousands of the Shah's political opponents until 1979. Sabeti has denied these allegations, stating he was not personally involved and "always opposed torture."
Judge Presnell's sealed order on Tuesday rejected Sabeti's argument that a statute of limitations should be strictly enforced. In August 2025, Presnell had previously rejected a motion to dismiss the case outright, ordering discovery on whether the TVPA claim was time-barred.
Sabeti's lawyers dispute that he was difficult to locate before 2023, presenting documents they say prove he lived openly in Florida under his real name. Conversely, attorneys for the plaintiffs filed documents to support their argument for an extension of time to bring the claim, citing extraordinary circumstances.