Word: mossadeq
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1951-1951
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Eviction & Histrionics. The Iranian government of Premier Mohammed Mossadeq mailed businesslike notices to the 300 remaining British staff members of the oil company: "[By] Thursday, Oct. 4, 1951 . . . you are required to have left this country." Iranian tanks clanked on to Abadan island, and Iranian troops stood guard at the refinery gates, barring the Britons from entrance. Iranian spokesmen vowed they would blow up the refinery if the British made any move to send in armored forces...
...Premier Mossadeq added his own trembly display of histrionics. In Teherran's Parliament Square, he harangued a large crowd, berating British policy in Iran. Shouts of "Down with the British!" welled up again & again from his audience. Mossadeq responded: "People, do not say, 'Down with the British!' . . . I want you to say, 'Allah should guide the British into the right path...
From Teheran came reports that Mossadeq himself would fly to the Council meeting, to argue, and probably to weep and faint, in defense of his government's reckless course. Possession (in the old saying, nine points of the law) was on his side...
There is no evidence in Iran that a "settlement" is any more likely this week than it was last week or last month. One significant change in the situation: Premier Mohammed Mossadeq-who has been running the show from his cot, summoning Western diplomats, cowing the Iranian Parliament with his National Front thugs, telling the Shah where he got off-has begun to slip. Fourteen deputies last week signed a manifesto protesting the Premier's policies, deriding the fiasco of oil nationalization. Sayid Zia Eddin Tabatabai, onetime Premier and wily old politician, set up an opposition, revived his National...
...British imposed economic sanctions against Iran (partial blocking of Iranian sterling holdings in London, banning exports of scarce raw materials to Iran), and were evidently trying hard to squeeze out Mossadeq. Even if they succeed (despite his troubles Mossadeq, fainting fits, tears and all, is still immensely popular in Iran), it is far from likely that a "settlement" would result. Far more probable is a steady downhill slide of Iran's economy, with inflation, unemployment and rioting, exploited by the Communist Tudeh Party...