Dr. Mohammad Mossaddeq

Fatemeh Moezzi

Mohammad Mossaddeq, son of Mirza Hedayat-tollah Vazir Daftar, was born in 1882 in Tehran. He is related by his mother, Najm-os-saltaneh to Fath Ali Shah. Following his common education of the time, he entered the court of Nasser-ad-din Shah. After his father's death he was entitled Mossaddeq-os-saltaneh. He was appointed state accountant of Khorrassan in Mozaffar-ad-din Shah's period. Following the foundation of the school of Political Sciences in Tehran, he left the public service to enter the school. After a while, he became concordant with constitutionalists and was a candidate for the first term of Majlis but due to his minority, his credentials were rejected.

He went to Europe to continue his educations. But due to illness, he returned to Tehran. Again he left for Europe with his family to study law and got his ph. D. When he returned to Iran,he attended the school of political sciences and refused to enter the government services. He apposed Vossoq-ud-dowleh and during his premiership he left Tehran for Europe. When 1919 Agreement was concluded, he published many articles against it in foreign journals.

Following Vossoq-ud-dowleh's downfall and coming of Moshir-od-dowleh, he returned to Iran. He was appointed the governor general of Fars for a period. But he apposed Seyyed Zia and offered his resignation, being accepted by Ahmad Shah.

Subsequent to Seyyed Zia's removal, he was appointed governor general of Azerbaijan for a period of one year where he accomplished successfully. In Mirza Hassan Khan Moshir-od-dowleh's cabinet, he became minister for foreign affairs. But Moshir-od-dowleh's cabinet was transient and now it was Sardar Sepah's turn to form the cabinet. Mossaddeq had no place in this cabinet. He was elected as a deputy to the fifth term of Majlis. The fifth Majlis was the one that ratified the dissolution of Qajar dynasty but some deputies including Dr. Mossaddeq, and Seyyed Hassan Modarress opposed this bill. Dr. Mossaddeq delivered a speech and set forth his reasons for this opposition: In a Constitutional government, the prime minister plays the key role not the monarch. The monarch may appoint a prime minister through Majlis vote of confidence. So, if prime minister becomes monarch, then he will interfere in all affairs of the country. The very qualities now we observe in him will be continued when he is monarch, prime minister and the commander in chief simultaneously.

He was a deputy of the sixth term of Majlis and assisted by Seyyed Hassan Modarress continued his opposition to Reza Shah. After this term, he gave up politics and retired to Ahmad Abad and ten to Europe.

He was arrested in 1940 and was exiled to Birjand and Ahmad Abad. One year later, in August 1941, following Reza Khan's downfall, he was released and elected for the 14th term of Majlis. In this Majlis alluding to and enumerating his treacheries he tried to unseat Seyyed Zia-ad-din Tabatabaee. He opposed the grant of north oil concession to the Soviets, and sponsored the oil law, prohibiting the grant of any oil concession by the prime minister or any other authority.

This bill was ratified the same day and the government had no authority to grant any oil concessions. Opposition seats of this bill included Tudeh members such as Iraj Eskandari, Reza Radmanesh and … . In the fifteenth term of elections, he found out that Qavam's cabinet interfered in the elections. He took sanctuary for 4 days in the court accompanied by other deputies sharing the same views. However, it was of no use and Qavam-os-saltaneh saved his authority.

In the sixth term of Majlis elections, once again he took sanctuary in the court for free elections along with other deputies of the same mind.

The consequence of this move was the formation of "National front" and annulment of Tehran elections. In the sixth term of Majlis, he was a member of the oil committee and led his efforts towards the nationalization of oil industry with other national front deputies.

In 1950, lieutenant general Haj Ali Razm Ara became prime minister. National front deputies in Majlis opposed him strongly, since he was an ardent opponent of nationalization of oil industry. His assassination paved the path for the nationalists and in March 20th 1951, Majlis announced the nationalization of oil.

After Razmara, Ala's cabinet came to power. This government did not succeed to handle the affairs in those critical days. So premiership was left to Mossaddeq. He introduced his cabinet members in April 1951, without informing his friends in the National Front which ended in their displeasure.

The nationalization of oil industry and the removal of British influence in this industry were the main priorities of his government. Against all problems, he succeeded to carry out this program and turnoff the oil taps to the British. In June 1952 Dr. Mossaddeq left for the Hague court where by the British government had presented its observations of the Anglo-Iranian oil company case.

On his return, he introduced his new cabinet to the Shah. He occupied the office of ministry of war at which the Shah was dissatisfied. The Shah was unwilling to grant all powers to him. The result of this dispute was Mossaddeq's resignation. He retired himself to home, but the religious leader of the movement, Ayattollah Kashani led the affairs this time, July 21st uprising being its consequence. It was only for 4 days that Mossaddeq left his office. Qavam-os-saltaneh was not the man to compete with Mossaddeq. Simultaneous with this, the Hague announced its verdict on the ground that it had no jurisdiction to consider the oil dispute, and it endorsed Iran's case.

Dr. Mossaddeq was again prime minister from July 22nd to August 19th. But domestic and foreign treacheries and the dispute between him and Ayatollah Kashani, paved the path for the American and the British intrigues which led to August 19th coup and fall of the motional government. He was tired after the coup and was exiled to Ahmad Ahad. He died in Najmeh hospital in 1966.

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