Abstract
Historical studies on the twentieth century indicate that Britain, as a significant world power, did much to rewrite history in the Middle East, especially Iran. Many authors have called attention to Iran’s geopolitical location and massive oil reserves as causes for regional quarrels that did not actually bring prosperity to Iranians but merely covered the royal family’s expenses. Other scholars hint at British intentions to reap oil benefits and practise hegemony at Iranian expense. Literature on the Iranian oil industry prior to its nationalisation indicates that the D’Arcy Concession of 1901—later named the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC) in 1908 and the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC) in 1933—was intimately tied to Great Britain. When the oil was exploited by the Abadan refinery, British economic interests increased annually until early 1951, when the Majlis (Majlis-i Shūrā-yi Millī or parliament) unanimously voted to nationalise the industry under Dr. Mohammad Mosaddeq (Dr. Mohammad Mosaddeq’s name is spelled in this book according to Encyclopædia Britannica; at: http://global.britannica.com/biography/Mohammad-Mosaddeq.), leader of the nationalist movement who was committed to re-establishing a democratic constitutional monarchy. The 70-years-old patriot and secular anti-imperialist nationalist was Iran’s prime minister (PM) from 28 April 1951 to 16 July 1952 and, after a nearly unanimous vote of the Majlis, from 21 July 1952 to 19 August 1953. Some Iranian scholars argue that his tenure at this critical juncture was a pivotal factor in Iran’s history.
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Notes
- 1.
All dates were converted according to the “Iran Chamber Society”; see at: http://www.iranchamber.com/calendar/converter/iranian_calendar_converter.php.
- 2.
Tudeh Party of Iran is a pro-communist party established in October 1941 (Mehr 1320). As one of Iran’s main Leftist parties, it was closely linked to the political events of the day.
- 3.
The Tehran election finally took place on 11 April 1950 (22 Farvardin 1329).
- 4.
The Oil Committee was formed in the sixteenth Majlis and was first proposed by Hassan-Ali Mansour, Secretary-General of the Iran Party and PM before Razmārā, from 3 April to 27 June 1950 (14 Farvardin to 6 Tir 1329). Mansour refused to sign the Gass-Gulshāyān Agreement. The members of the OC were: Duktur Mosaddeq, Duktur ‘Alavī, Nāsir Ẕulfaqārī, Javād Ganjahī, Faqīhʹzādah, Allāhyār Ṣāliḥ, Ḥusayn Makkī, Khusru Qashqāyī, Sartīpʹzādah, Jamāl Imāmī, Javād ‘Āmirī, Duktur Nusrat al-lāh Qāsimī, Abū al-Ḥasan Ḥāʼirīʹzādah, ‘Abd al-raḥmat Farāmarzī, Duktur Muḥammad ‘Alī Hidāyatī, Duktur Shāyigān, MīrʹSayyid ‘Alī Bihbahānī and Pālīzī.
- 5.
Ḥusayn Makkī was a journalist, politician and Majlis deputy in the sixteenth Majlis. He established the Iran Party in 1944 (1322) and supported Dr. Mosaddeq’s nationalisation of oil. After 21 July 1952, he joined the opposition against Dr. Mosaddeq. On 5 April 1953 (16 Farvardin 1332), he was selected as one of the members of an eight-member committee from the Majlis to solve the disagreement between Dr. Mosaddeq, the Shah and Kashani.
- 6.
Āyyat al-lāh Abū al-Qāsim Kāshānī (Kashani) was the leader of Mujāhidīn-i Islām, a Twelver Shia Muslim cleric, a rare clergyman involved in politics, who served as Speaker of the Majlis during Dr. Mosaddeq’s government from September 1952 to July 1953.
- 7.
The Nine-Point Law provided details for the execution of nationalisation. The most important point was for Iranians to control Iran’s oil industry and all its resources.
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Ebrahimi, M. (2016). British Interest in Iran’s Oil: Prelude to Conflict. In: The British Role in Iranian Domestic Politics (1951-1953). SpringerBriefs in Environment, Security, Development and Peace, vol 5. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31098-5_1
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