Ghavam os-Saltaneh
Encyclopedia
Ahmad Qavām , also known as Qavām os-Saltaneh , was a politician who served as Prime Minister of Iran
five times.
was written by Qavam, who had the title of Dabir-e Hozoor (Private Secretary) at the time. In fact Qavam was instrumental in the Iranian Constitutional Revolution[2]. He became Prime Minister several times during both Qajar and Pahlavi dynasties. Any time the country needed him, he accepted the challenge. He played a significant role in preventing the USSR from separating Iran's northern states twice [2]. Nevertheless, historians have mixed feelings about his legacy.
of Tehran
against the Qajar government, Tabatabaei ordered Colonel Pesian
to arrest many of the opposition, among them Ahmad Ghavam. Ghavam was arrested and sent to Tehran.
However with the fall of Zia'eddin Tabatabaee's government, Mostowfi ol-Mamalek
among others was offered the position of Prime Minister, which he and the rest declined, due to the unstable political situation at the time. Hence Ghavam who had just been released from the Ishratabad prison of Tehran was offered the position, which he accepted and became Prime Minister overnight. So unusual was his rise that Iraj Mirza
wrote the following verses:
یکی را افکند امروز در بند
کند روز دیگر او را خداوند
"One day in prison he is thrown,
another day the King's chair he'll own"
Ghavam in fact ordered the arrest of Seyyed Zia'eddin Tabatabaee
in an incident 25 years later. He also ordered the crackdown on the revolt of Colonel Pesian
which he crushed with the aid of Reza Pahlavi
Of the major events that occurred during his terms as the Prime Minister, was his invitation to Arthur Millspaugh
for assisting the government in its finances. Another was the riots of 1942 for economic hardship. He appointed Sepahbod Ahmad Amir-Ahmadi to restore order and end the riots, which he did forcefully. Ghavam was also instrumental in the 1919 treaty between Iran, Russia, and Britain.
He was again voted Prime Minister on January 26, 1946 with a slim margin in the Majlis of 52-51. The Majlis thought he would have the best chance of resolving the Soviet inspired rebellion of the occupied Azerbaijan province since Qavam was the largest property-owner in the region. Qavam did not disappoint. He ordered the Iranian delegation to the UN to negotiate issues pending before the Security Council directly with the Soviet delegation. He then flew to Moscow to discuss the issues personally with Stalin.
When the Soviets violated the terms of the Tripartate Pact which called for all foreign military forces to be withdrawn from Iranian territory by March 2, 1946, it drew a strong rebuke from Parliamentary Whip, Mohammed Mossadegh.
Qavam arranged a deal with the Soviets, granting an oil concession in the North contingent on the approval of the Majlis after the elections. Under the terms of the agreement with Qavam, Soviet troops began withdrawing from Iran. When the new Majlis was seated, they immediately voted against the proposed Soviet oil concession. This earned Qavam the congenial title, "The Old Fox".
He died at the age of 82 in 1955 in Tehran. He was survived by his second wife and his only son, Hossein.
Prime Minister of Iran
Prime Minister of Iran was a political post in Iran that had existed during several different periods of time starting with the Qajar era until its most recent revival from 1979 to 1989 following the Iranian Revolution.-Prime Ministers of Qajar era:In the Qajar era, prime ministers were known by...
five times.
Early life
Born in 1876 to a prominent Iranian family. His uncle, Amin Aldoleh, was a prime minister of Iran. He served in the royal court of Nasereddin Shah early in his career. He slowly climbed his way up, and obtained the title Ghavam al-Saltaneh during the Constitutional Revolution of Iran. Hasan Vothuq (also known as Vothuq al-Dowleh) was his older brother. The letter signed by Mozaffaredin Shah to accept the Iranian Constitutional RevolutionIranian Constitutional Revolution
The Persian Constitutional Revolution or Iranian Constitutional Revolution took place between 1905 and 1907...
was written by Qavam, who had the title of Dabir-e Hozoor (Private Secretary) at the time. In fact Qavam was instrumental in the Iranian Constitutional Revolution[2]. He became Prime Minister several times during both Qajar and Pahlavi dynasties. Any time the country needed him, he accepted the challenge. He played a significant role in preventing the USSR from separating Iran's northern states twice [2]. Nevertheless, historians have mixed feelings about his legacy.
Political life
In 1920, during the coup d'etatCoup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
of Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
against the Qajar government, Tabatabaei ordered Colonel Pesian
Colonel Pesian
Colonel Mohammad Taqi-Khan Pessian , born into an aristocratic family in Tabriz, was a popular military leader of Iran and became a national hero after his assassination...
to arrest many of the opposition, among them Ahmad Ghavam. Ghavam was arrested and sent to Tehran.
However with the fall of Zia'eddin Tabatabaee's government, Mostowfi ol-Mamalek
Mostowfi ol-Mamalek
Mirza Hasan Ashtiani Mostowfi al-Mamalek was an Iranian Politician who served as Prime Minister of Iran on six separate occasions.-Early Life:...
among others was offered the position of Prime Minister, which he and the rest declined, due to the unstable political situation at the time. Hence Ghavam who had just been released from the Ishratabad prison of Tehran was offered the position, which he accepted and became Prime Minister overnight. So unusual was his rise that Iraj Mirza
Iraj Mirza
Prince Iraj Mirza , son of prince Gholam Hossein Mirza, was a famous Iranian poet. He was a modern poet and his works are associated with the criticism of traditions. He had translations from the French language....
wrote the following verses:
یکی را افکند امروز در بند
کند روز دیگر او را خداوند
"One day in prison he is thrown,
another day the King's chair he'll own"
Ghavam in fact ordered the arrest of Seyyed Zia'eddin Tabatabaee
Seyyed Zia'eddin Tabatabaee
Seyyed Zia'eddin Tabatabaee was an Iranian politician and the Prime Minister of Iran from February to May 1921 under Ahmad Shah, the last Shah of the Qajar dynasty....
in an incident 25 years later. He also ordered the crackdown on the revolt of Colonel Pesian
Colonel Pesian
Colonel Mohammad Taqi-Khan Pessian , born into an aristocratic family in Tabriz, was a popular military leader of Iran and became a national hero after his assassination...
which he crushed with the aid of Reza Pahlavi
Reza Shah
Rezā Shāh, also known as Rezā Shāh Pahlavi and Rezā Shāh Kabir , , was the Shah of the Imperial State of Iran from December 15, 1925, until he was forced to abdicate by the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran on September 16, 1941.In 1925, Reza Shah overthrew Ahmad Shah Qajar, the last Shah of the Qajar...
Of the major events that occurred during his terms as the Prime Minister, was his invitation to Arthur Millspaugh
Arthur Millspaugh
Arthur Chester Millspaugh, PhD, was a former adviser at the U.S. State Department’s Office of the Foreign Trade, who was hired to re-organize the Finance Ministry of Iran from 1922–1927 and 1942-1945....
for assisting the government in its finances. Another was the riots of 1942 for economic hardship. He appointed Sepahbod Ahmad Amir-Ahmadi to restore order and end the riots, which he did forcefully. Ghavam was also instrumental in the 1919 treaty between Iran, Russia, and Britain.
He was again voted Prime Minister on January 26, 1946 with a slim margin in the Majlis of 52-51. The Majlis thought he would have the best chance of resolving the Soviet inspired rebellion of the occupied Azerbaijan province since Qavam was the largest property-owner in the region. Qavam did not disappoint. He ordered the Iranian delegation to the UN to negotiate issues pending before the Security Council directly with the Soviet delegation. He then flew to Moscow to discuss the issues personally with Stalin.
When the Soviets violated the terms of the Tripartate Pact which called for all foreign military forces to be withdrawn from Iranian territory by March 2, 1946, it drew a strong rebuke from Parliamentary Whip, Mohammed Mossadegh.
Qavam arranged a deal with the Soviets, granting an oil concession in the North contingent on the approval of the Majlis after the elections. Under the terms of the agreement with Qavam, Soviet troops began withdrawing from Iran. When the new Majlis was seated, they immediately voted against the proposed Soviet oil concession. This earned Qavam the congenial title, "The Old Fox".
He died at the age of 82 in 1955 in Tehran. He was survived by his second wife and his only son, Hossein.
See also
- Pahlavi DynastyPahlavi dynastyThe Pahlavi dynasty consisted of two Iranian/Persian monarchs, father and son Reza Shah Pahlavi and Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi The Pahlavi dynasty consisted of two Iranian/Persian monarchs, father and son Reza Shah Pahlavi (reg. 1925–1941) and Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi The Pahlavi dynasty ...
- List of Prime Ministers of Iran
- Reza ShahReza ShahRezā Shāh, also known as Rezā Shāh Pahlavi and Rezā Shāh Kabir , , was the Shah of the Imperial State of Iran from December 15, 1925, until he was forced to abdicate by the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran on September 16, 1941.In 1925, Reza Shah overthrew Ahmad Shah Qajar, the last Shah of the Qajar...
- Mohammad Reza Shah
- Abdolhossein Teymourtash
- Ali Akbar DavarAli Akbar DavarAli-Akbar Dāvar was the founder of the modern judicial system of Iran.Born in 1888, he began his career in the judiciary in Iran, after having completed his studies at the élite school of Dar ol-Fonoon in Tehran. He then went on to obtain his law degree in Switzerland...