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Mohammad Mosaddegh, former prime minister of Iran. Photo by Unknown author on

Top 10 Facts about Mohammad Mosaddegh

Mohammad Mosaddegh was an Iranian politician, author and lawyer. Mohamed as served as the 35th prime minister of Iran from 1951 to 1953.

He was a member of the Iranian parliament from 1923. He served through a contentious 1952 election into the 17th Iranian Majlis.

Before the removal of his government from power, the bus administration introduced a range of social and political measures. These were social security, land reforms and high taxes.

The government also introduced taxation on the rent of land. His government鈥檚 most significant policy was the nationalization of the Iranian oil industry.

The oil industry had been built by the British on Persian lands. This was in 1913 through the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC/AIOC), later known as British Petroleum (BP).

His government was overthrown in the 1953 Iranian coup d鈥櫭﹖at. The coup was orchestrated by the intelligence agencies of the United Kingdom (MI6) and the United States (CICI, led by Kermit Roosevelt Jr.

His National Front was suppressed from the 1954 election. In 2013, the U.S. government formally acknowledged the U.S. role in the coup.

Let鈥檚 learn about the Top 10 Facts about Mohammad Mosaddegh:

1. He was Born to a Prominent Persian Family of High Official

Mosaddegh鈥檚 family was prominent. It had high officials in Tehran. His father, Mirza Hideyatu鈥檒lah Ashtiani, was the finance minister under the Qajar dynasty.

His mother, Princess Malek Taj Najm-es-Saltaneh, was the granddaughter of the reformist Qajar prince Abbas Mirza. When Mosaddegh鈥檚 father died in 1892, his uncle was appointed the tax collector of the Khorasan province.

2. The First Iranian to Receive a PhD in Law from a European University

Mohammad Mosaddegh in court martial. Photo by Ebrahim Golestan on

Mosaddegh pursued education abroad in 麻豆APP in 1909. He studied at the Institut d鈥櫭﹖udes politiques de 麻豆APP (Sciences Po).

However, he returned to Iran after two years because of illness, in 1911. After 5 months, Mosaddegh returned to Europe to study for a Doctorate of Laws at the University of Neuch芒tel in Switzerland.

In June 1913, Mosaddegh received his doctorate. He became the first Iranian to receive a PhD in Law from a European university.

3. He Started his Political Career with the Iranian Constitutional Revolution

At the age of 24, Mosaddegh was elected from Isfahan to the newly inaugurated Persian Parliament, the Majlis of Iran. However, he was unable to assume his seat. This is because he had not reached the legal age of 30.

Additionally, he served as deputy leader of the society of Humanity. This was under Mostowfi ol-Mamalek. He served as finance minister in the government of Ahmad Qavam in 1921.

He also served as the foreign minister in the government of Moshir-ed-Dowleh in June 1923. Mosaddegh then became governor of the Azerbaijan Province.

4. The Founder of the National Front of Iran

Mohammad Mosaddegh colourized. Photo by PhotoColor on

Mosaddegh was once again elected to parliament in 1944. During, this time, he took the lead of Jebhe Melli (National Front of Iran, created in 1949).

He founded The National Front of Iran with nineteen others. This included Hossein Fatemi, Ahmad Zirakzadeh, Ali Shayegan and Karim Sanjabi.

He aimed to establish democracy and end the foreign presence in Iranian Politics. In 1947, Mossadegh once again announced retirement, after an electoral-reform bill he had proposed failed to pass through Majlis.

5. He was appointed as Prime Minister by Shah

Mosaddegh was appointed as the Prime Minister after the Majlis nominated him. The Shah was aware of Mosaddegh鈥檚 rising popularity and political power.

This was after a period of assassinations by Fada鈥檌yan-e Islam and political unrest by the National Front. Demonstrations erupted in Tehran after Mosaddegh鈥檚 appointment. The crowds were invigorated by the speeches of members of the National Front.

6. Mosaddegh Nationalised the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company

Mohammad Mosaddegh, former prime minister of Iran. Photo by Unknown author on

Mosaddegh nationalised the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company. This was by cancelling its oil concession and expropriating its assets. It was otherwise set to expire in 1993.

Mossadegh saw the AIOC as an arm of the British government controlling much of the oil in Iran. This pushed him to seize what the British had built in Iran.

In March 1951 the Majles passed his oil-nationalization act. The nationalization resulted in a deepening crisis in Iran, both politically and economically.

The British soon withdrew completely from the Iranian oil market. However, economic problems increased when Mosaddegh could not readily find alternate oil markets.

7. Strove to Increase the Power People Held Versus Power of the Crown

Throughout Mossadegh鈥檚 career, he tried to increase the power the people held versus the power of the crown. In 1952, he was granted emergency powers by the Majlis.

Mossadegh used to diminish the amount of power the Shah held at the time. He used these powers to place the control of the armed forces under the government.

 Moreover, to decrease the size of the armed forces. He introduced land reforms with a more socialist approach.

However, tension escalated in the Majlis. Conservative opponents refused to grant Mosaddegh special powers.

8. He Passed the Land Reform Act

Mohammad Mosaddegh in court martial. Photo by Ebrahim Golestan on

In 1952, Mossadegh passed the Land Reform Act. The reform forced landlords to place 20% of their revenue into a development fund. The fund paid for various projects such as public baths, rural housing and pest control.

9. He was Sentenced to Three Years鈥� Solitary Confinement

On 21 December 1953, Mosaddegh was sentenced to three Years鈥� solitary confinement in a military prison.

After hearing the sentence, Mossadegh was reported to have said with a calm voice of sarcasm: 鈥淭he verdict of this court has increased my historical glories. I am extremely grateful you convicted me. Truly tonight the Iranian nation understood the meaning of constitutionalism.鈥�

Mossadegh was kept under house arrest at his Ahmadabad residence. This was until his death on 5 March 1967.

10. He was Buried in his Living Room

A wax sculpture of Mohammad Mosaddegh by Alireza Khaghani. Photo by Alireza Khaghani on

Mosaddegh was denied a funeral. He was buried in his Living room.

This was despite his request to be buried in the public graveyard. His request was to be buried beside the victims of the political violence.

Although Mosaddegh was never directly elected as Prime Minister. He enjoyed massive popularity throughout most of his career.

 Despite beginning to fall out of favour during the later stages of the Abadan Crisis. The secret U.S. overthrow of Mosaddegh served as a rallying point in anti-US protests during the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

 To this day Mosaddegh is one of the most popular figures in Iranian history.