The Iranian History 1940 AD

 

Brief History of Iran Iranian History Chronicle

Iran Offers Alliance To Britain

Feb, 1, 1940 AD

Reza Shah Pahlavi UniformIran's minister of war secretly proposed a joint military operation against Russians. In a telegraph sent to the British ministry of foreign affairs by Horace Seymour, the plenipotentiary minister to Iran, it was conveyed that an attack from Russians could be eminent and although the proposal seemed to be without Reza Shah's consent, the Iranian minister asked for British help in modernizing the Persian army. However, the response received on Feb, 9 was negative, stating that; "At this point it is not necessary or suitable to answer this proposal because Iran will be a trouble-making ally for Britain." The British foreign ministry added that, Britain may be able to deploy troops to northern Iraq and even help bomb Baku but if Tehran came under attack, it would be impossible for them to send infantry units there.
Reza Shah had been playing Britain and Russia against each other for a long time and he was trying to play his cards as best as he could to get a modern air force. However, his worst dream came true and the two enemies of Iran made an agreement to invade Iran simultaneously in Aug, 1941. (Updated: Jan, 7, 2009)





Britain Refuses Selling Airplanes To Iran

Mar, 3, 1940 AD

Eshratabad Building GardenA request by the Iranian government to purchase some airplanes from Britain was denied. The Iranian air force had been founded by airplanes purchased from Russia and Germany. After Iran created naval units by help from Italians, the English hegemony in the Persian Gulf came to an end and therefore they could not digest the thought of a strong Iranian air force. Years later, Iranians built the strongest air force in the region by purchases made from the US until 1979 revolution. (Updated: Dec, 1, 2007)





Mansour Appointed Prime Minister

Jun, 25, 1940 AD

Reza Shah and his queen TajolmolukReza Shah appointed Rajabali Mansour as the new Prime Minister. The pro-German Matin Daftari could only remain prime minister for 8 months and Reza Shah's plans to get the best of the conflict in Europe proved wrong. For one thing, nobody could ever think that arch foes Soviets and British could put aside their differences and unite against Germany.
Rajabali Mansour swiftly presented his cabinet of ministers to the Majlis on June, 30th. Right after his cabinet and his programs were approved by the parliament, Mansour who was a known as an anglophile, tried to make up for Daftari's mistakes so to say. But he could not fulfill his duties as expected. He finally had to resign on Aug, 27, 1941. (Updated: Feb, 11, 2009)





Mosaddegh Sent To Exile In Ahmadabad

Dec, 4, 1940 AD

1940 Tehran Post OfficeMosaddegh's political activities raised an ire during the reign of Reza Shah as well as his son Mohammad Reza Shah's. Reza Shah had imprisoned Mosaddegh in Birjand and then sent him to Ahmadabad near Karaj. Mosaddegh was kept under house arrest. Reza Shah was forced to abdicate in favour of his son in 1941 after Allied Powers invaded Iran. He was forced to leave the country, taken in a British ship to the Maurice Island, and then to South Africa, where he died.
As a part of a general pardon that followed Mohammad Reza Shah's accession to the throne that year, some prisoners including Mosaddegh were set free. Mosaddegh kept on his activities for democracy and defending people's rights. He was elected as the first parliament representative from Tehran. After the military coup in 1953 he was sent to prison again. After 3 years he was sent to Ahmadabad and kept there in exile for the rest of his life until he died. (Updated: Dec, 5, 2007)





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