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Today in History: Four Iranian diplomats kidnapped by Lebanese Phalange

7/4/2026

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Summary

Story summary

On 4 July 1982, Lebanese Phalangist forces stopped a convoy at a northern checkpoint and seized four Iranian diplomats—military attaché Ahmad Motevaselian, chargé d’affaires Seyed Mohsen Mousavi, embassy employee Taghi Rastegar Moghadam—and IRNA photojournalist Kazem Akhavan. All vanished thereafter, their fate still unknown.

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Story summary

On 4 July 1982, Lebanese Phalangist forces stopped a convoy at a northern checkpoint and seized four Iranian diplomats—military attaché Ahmad Motevaselian, chargé d’affaires Seyed Mohsen Mousavi, embassy employee Taghi Rastegar Moghadam—and IRNA photojournalist Kazem Akhavan. All vanished thereafter, their fate still unknown.