Ali Amini

Ali Amini
67th Prime Minister of Iran
In office 5 May 1961 – 19 July 1962
Monarch	Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi
Preceded by	Jafar Sharif-Emami
Succeeded by	Asadollah Alam
Minister of Economic Affairs
In office 19 August 1953 – 7 April 1955
Prime Minister	Fazlollah Zahedi
Preceded by	Nezam-ed-din Emami
Succeeded by	Nasrollah Jahangir
Minister of Culture
In office 21 July 1952 – 19 August 1953
Prime Minister	Mohammad Mosaddegh
Preceded by	Ali Jahangiri
Succeeded by	Mohammad Sepehri
Personal details
Born	12 December 1905 Tehran, Iran
Died	Paris, France
Political party	Democratic Party
Spouse(s)	Batol Vosogh
Children	Iraj Amini
Alma mater	Tehran University
Religion	Twelver Shi'a Islam

Ali Amini (12 December 1905 – 12 December 1992) was an Iranian politician and writer who was the Prime Minister of Iran from 6 May 1961 to 19 July 1962.

Early life

Amini was born on 12 December 1905 in Tehran. He was a grandson of Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar through his mother, Fakhr ol dowleh. He completed his studies first in Darolfonoon and then in France where he graduated with a degree in law from Grenoble University, followed by his Ph.D in economics from Paris.

He became involved in politics through the help of Ali Akbar Davar who gave him a position in the judiciary.

Career

At the age of 37, Amini was selected as a minister to serve in the cabinet of Ahmad Ghavam. He was a member of the National Front, but broke away from the party in 1952.

He was minister of culture from 1952 to 1953. He became minister of economic affairs in the cabinet of Fazlollah Zahedi and remain in office until 1955. The same year he was named ambassador to the US. His tendencies were pro-American to the extent that made the Shah uncomfortable. Mohammad Reza Shah in particular distrusted Amini's popularity and friendship with then-senator John F. Kennedy. Therefore, his tenure ended in 1958.

File:Ali Amini.jpg

Amini after his appointment as prime minister

In the 1950s, Amini was a candidate for premiership. He was appointed prime minister in 1961. In July 1962, however, he was replaced by the Shah's close friend and a major Birjand landowner Asadollah Alam. In the late 1970s, Amini attempted a comeback into Iranian politics at the age of 70. He served as advisor to the Shah during the final days of the Pahlavi Dynasty.

Personal life

Amini married Batoul Voosough (died 1992) in 1932 and they had a son, Iraj.

Honours

Amini was awarded Grand Croix of the Legion of Honor in 1962.

Later years and death

In 1979, Amini moved to Paris, France. There he headed the Front for the Liberation of Iran, a monarchist opposition group. He complained about internal struggle among the exiled Iranian monachists, saying "We're not even back in Tehran [and] they quarrel over the name of the country's future prime minister." He wrote his biography published by Harvard University.

He died in Paris on 12 December 1992, his 87th birthday. His body was buried in Passy Cemetery.

References

• Habib Ladjevardi, editor, Memories of Ali Amini (in Persian), second edition, 244 p. (Harvard University Press, 1997). ISBN 0-932885-11-X
• 'Alí Rizā Awsatí (عليرضا اوسطى), Iran in the past three centuries (Irān dar Se Qarn-e Goz̲ashteh - ايران در سه قرن گذشته), Volumes 1 and 2 (Paktāb Publishing - انتشارات پاکتاب, Tehran, Iran, 2003). ISBN 964-93406-6-1 (Vol. 1), ISBN 964-93406-5-3 (Vol. 2).

External links

• Transcript of Amini interview as part of Harvard Iranian Oral History Project directed by Habib Ladjevardi
• Dr. Ali Amini, Prime Minister, Switzerland, 1962, A short passage (1:53) of an interview on YouTube, in French, with Dr. Ali Amini,.

Political offices
Preceded by Ali Jahangiri	Minister of Culture 1952–1953	Succeeded by Mohammad Sepehri
Preceded by Nezam-ed-din Emami	Minister of Economic Affairs 1953–1955	Succeeded by Nasrollah Jahangir
Preceded by Jafar Sharif-Emami	Prime Minister of Iran 1961–1962	Succeeded by Asadollah Alam
Party political offices
Preceded by Ahmad Qavam	Leader of Democratic Party 1949-1965	Succeeded by Party Dissolved

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