[2] After graduation, Badrei joined the Imperial army as lieutenant in the Mounted Infantry.

[2] In February 1979 Badrei publicly stated that the army would not follow the orders of Prime Minister Shahpour Bakhtiar.

[3] Instead of being reprimanded by the Shah due to these remarks, he was named commander of the ground forces on 10 January,[1] succeeding Gholam Ali Oveissi, who had resigned from office and left Iran.

[4][5] Badrei formed a group to carry a military coup on 10 February, just before the Iranian revolution.

[7][8] He was leading the troops of the Imperial Ground Forces loyal to the Shah which were fighting against armed civilians who were the supporters of Ayatollah Khomeini when he was murdered.