Jamshid Amuzegar
Encyclopedia
Dr. Jamshid Amouzegar (born 25 June 1923) is an Iran
ian economist, artist and politician who was Prime Minister of Iran
from 7 August 1977 to 27 August 1978 when he resigned. Prior to that, he was Minister of Interior and Minister of Finance in the cabinet of Amir-Abbas Hoveida. He was the leader of Rastakhiz Party during his tenure as prime minister.
, Iran
, he first climbed his way to college graduating with degrees in Law and Engineering from Tehran University. While World War II
was brewing, he was able to enroll in Cornell University
. After completing his PhD at Cornell University
, he returned to Iran and became deputy minister in Iran's ministry of Health, under Dr Jahanshah Saleh in 1955. Amouzegar was among the first of Iran
's politicians schooled and trained in the United States
. Prior to that time, Iran's elite were almost entirely trained in France
, among other European countries.
after the assassination of Prime minister Mansour in 1964, remaining in that post for nine years. In 1971, he and Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani
of Saudi Arabia
were instrumental in implementing the series of price hikes that ultimately quadrupled the price of oil and provided the resources for Iran to modernize its infrastructure, agriculture, and defense. For this accomplishment, Amouzegar was awarded the Taj-e Iran, first class, an honor normally reserved for only the prime minister and former prime ministers. He was appointed Minister of the Interior in 1974.
On 21 December 1975, he was taken hostage by the Venezuelan terrorist Carlos the Jackal during an OPEC meeting. Carlos was ordered to execute him, but did not do so, and Amouzger was released along with the other hostages after a few days.
In 1977, he became chairman of the Rastakhiz
(Resurrection) party, having led the Progressive faction against Finance Minister Hushang Ansary
's Liberal Constructionist faction. Soon after Jimmy Carter
became president of the United States
, Amouzegar was appointed prime minister of Iran
in August 1977 in Ramsar
, succeeding his rival Amir Abbas Hoveyda. However, he rapidly became unpopular as he attempted to slow the overheated economy with measures that, although generally thought necessary, triggered a downturn in employment and private sector profits that would later compound the government's problems. Hence, in the wake of Khomeini's revolution, he soon resigned and was replaced by Jafar Sharif-Emami
.
Dr. Jamshid Amouzegar currently resides in the United States
.
"We Iran
ians were invaded by Greeks
, Arabs, Mongols
, and Turks
, but we never lost our identity because foreign invaders would find a richer culture in Persians than that of their own."
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian economist, artist and politician who was Prime Minister of Iran
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...
from 7 August 1977 to 27 August 1978 when he resigned. Prior to that, he was Minister of Interior and Minister of Finance in the cabinet of Amir-Abbas Hoveida. He was the leader of Rastakhiz Party during his tenure as prime minister.
Early life
Born on 25 June 1923 in TehranTehran
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...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, he first climbed his way to college graduating with degrees in Law and Engineering from Tehran University. While World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
was brewing, he was able to enroll in Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
. After completing his PhD at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, he returned to Iran and became deputy minister in Iran's ministry of Health, under Dr Jahanshah Saleh in 1955. Amouzegar was among the first of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
's politicians schooled and trained in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Prior to that time, Iran's elite were almost entirely trained in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, among other European countries.
Political Career
Amouzegar first took the post of Minister of Labor and then Minister of Health in the cabinet of prime minister Hasan-ali Mansour. He subsequently became Minister of Finance in the cabinet of Amir Abbas HoveidaAmir Abbas Hoveida
Amir-Abbas Hoveyda, was an Iranian economist and politician who served as Prime Minister of Iran from January 27, 1965 to August 7, 1977. He was prime minister for 13 years and is the longest serving prime minister in Iran's history. He also served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance...
after the assassination of Prime minister Mansour in 1964, remaining in that post for nine years. In 1971, he and Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani
Ahmed Zaki Yamani
Ahmed Zaki Yamani is a Saudi Arabian politician who was Minister of Oil and Mineral Resources from 1962 until 1986 for his country, and a minister in OPEC for 25 years....
of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
were instrumental in implementing the series of price hikes that ultimately quadrupled the price of oil and provided the resources for Iran to modernize its infrastructure, agriculture, and defense. For this accomplishment, Amouzegar was awarded the Taj-e Iran, first class, an honor normally reserved for only the prime minister and former prime ministers. He was appointed Minister of the Interior in 1974.
On 21 December 1975, he was taken hostage by the Venezuelan terrorist Carlos the Jackal during an OPEC meeting. Carlos was ordered to execute him, but did not do so, and Amouzger was released along with the other hostages after a few days.
In 1977, he became chairman of the Rastakhiz
Rastakhiz
Rastakhiz Party was founded on March 2, 1975 by Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran. The party was intended as Iran's new single party, holding a monopoly on political activity in Iran, and to which all Iranians were required to belong...
(Resurrection) party, having led the Progressive faction against Finance Minister Hushang Ansary
Hushang Ansary
Hushang Ansary is an Iranian-American diplomat, businessman, and philanthropist. He served for eighteen years in the Iranian government prior to the Iranian Revolution and has also been chairman or director of companies both in Iran and in the United States.-Political career:Born in Ahvaz, in...
's Liberal Constructionist faction. Soon after Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
became president of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Amouzegar was appointed prime minister of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
in August 1977 in Ramsar
Ramsar
Ramsar is a city in and the capital of Ramsar County, Mazandaran Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 31,659, in 9,421 families....
, succeeding his rival Amir Abbas Hoveyda. However, he rapidly became unpopular as he attempted to slow the overheated economy with measures that, although generally thought necessary, triggered a downturn in employment and private sector profits that would later compound the government's problems. Hence, in the wake of Khomeini's revolution, he soon resigned and was replaced by Jafar Sharif-Emami
Jafar Sharif-Emami
Jafar Sharif-Imami was an Iranian politician who was Prime Minister from 1960 to 1961 and again in 1978. He was a cabinet minister, president of the Iranian Senate, president of the Pahlavi Foundation, president of the Iran Chamber of Industries and Mines, and twice prime minister during the reign...
.
Dr. Jamshid Amouzegar currently resides in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Quotes
A memorable quote by Dr. Amouzegar:Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ians were invaded by Greeks
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
, Arabs, Mongols
Mongols
Mongols ) are a Central-East Asian ethnic group that lives mainly in the countries of Mongolia, China, and Russia. In China, ethnic Mongols can be found mainly in the central north region of China such as Inner Mongolia...
, and Turks
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
, but we never lost our identity because foreign invaders would find a richer culture in Persians than that of their own."
Source used for this article
- Iran in the last 3 centuries. Alireza Avsati. Vol 2. ISBN 964-93406-4-5
- Qajar (Kadjar) Orders and Decorations. http://www.qajarpages.org/qajorders.html