Mohammad Mosaddeq (R2), Irans democratically elected prime minister from 1951 to 1953[/caption]The Islamic Republic of Iran marks the 64th anniversary of the nationalization of its oil industry, which wasa significant step in the countrys independence from the West, Press TV reports.
On March 20, 1951, members of the Iranian parliament passed a bill introduced by the countrys democratically-elected prime minister, Mohammad Mosaddeq, to nationalize Irans oil industry.
Mosaddeqs decision was backed by his nationalist party as well as religious figures led by prominent cleric Ayyatollah Abolghassem Kashani.
The initiative put an end to Britains four-decade rule over Irans oil industry. The Britain-owned Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC) enjoyed monopolistic control over the industry and used to pay only a small share of the revenues to the Iranian government.
Three important factors were involved in the nationalization of Irans oil industry. The first factor was the national convergence towards this issue. The second factor was the strong bond among the nation, religious groups and the nationalist party. The third was the rivalries among the so-called big powers of the time, Hossein Amiri, an Iranian political analyst, told Press TV.
In retaliation for Mosaddeqs revolutionary move, Britain and the United States imposed sanctions against Irans oil and later colluded to stage a coup against the ex-premiers government in 1953 in a bid to reinstate the western-back monarch, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, in power after the bans failed to bear result.
The US gained tangible benefits from ousting Mosaddeqand usurped a significant share of Irans oil wealth following the notorious coup, Amiri added.
In 2013, the CIA published a document for the first time after six decades confirming Washingtons role in the British- and American-backed military overthrow of the Mosaddeq administration.
Iran was the first country in the Middle East to reclaim its oil industry. The Iranian nations move proved to be of great importance in giving rise to the anti-colonialist tendencies all over the region.
By Press TV
