Foreign affairs Abdolhossein Teymourtash

teymourtash upon being conferred france s highest civilian honour, legion d honneur in paris.

among first acts performed teymourtash in realm of foreign affairs shortly after assumed position of minister of court travel soviet union in 1926 on two-month visit. lengthy discussions led adoption of number of significant commercial agreements, development deemed significant ensuring britain precluded exercising domineering economic position since negotiation of perso-russian treaty of 1921, whereby soviet government agreed removal of troops iran. end, teymourtash attempted assiduously foster improved economic ties other industrialised countries, amongst them united states , germany.

during period, iran assumed lead role in cultivating closer ties neighbours, turkey, iraq , afghanistan. these countries pursuing similar domestic modernization plans, , collectively fostered increased cooperation , formed loose alliance bloc, leading western powers fear believed creation of asiatic alliance. in mid late 1920s turkish , iranian governments signed number of frontier , security agreements. furthermore, when king amanullah of afghanistan faced tribal unrest in 1930 lead removal throne, iranian government sent out several planeloads of officers of iranian army assist afghan king quell revolt. indeed, diplomatic steps first taken in 1920s, lead adoption of non-aggression agreement known treaty of saadabad between 4 countries in 1937.

another significant initiative spearheaded teymourtash concerted effort eliminate complex web of capitulation agreements iran had granted various foreign countries during qajar dynasty. such agreements conferred extraterritorial rights foreign residents of subject countries, , origins in iran traced russo-iranian treaty of turkmenchay of 1828. despite considerable opposition various foreign governments had secured such privileges, teymourtash conducted these negotiations on behalf of iran, , succeeded in abrogating such agreements 1928. teymourtash s success in these endeavours owed ability methodically secure agreements less obstinate country s first gain greater leverage against holdouts, , intimate iran prepared break diplomatic relations recalcitrant states if need be.

teymourtash s success in revoking capitulation treaties, , failure of anglo-iranian agreement of 1919 earlier, led intense diplomatic efforts british government regularize relations between 2 countries on treaty basis. ire of british government raised, however, persian diplomatic claims oil rich regions of greater , lesser tunbs islands, abu musa , bahrain in persian gulf region. on economic front, on other hand, minister of court s pressures rescind monopoly rights of british-owned imperial bank of persia issue banknotes in iran, iranian trade monopoly law of 1928, , prohibitions whereby british government , apoc no longer permitted enter direct agreements client tribes, had been case in past, did little satisfy british expectations. cumulative impact of these demands on british government expressed sir robert clive, britain s minister tehran, in 1931 noted in report foreign office there indications, indeed present policy see how far can push in way of concessions, , feel shall never re-establish our waning prestige or able treat persian government on equal terms, until in position call halt .

despite enormous volume of correspondence , protracted negotiations underway between 2 countries on widest array of issues, on iranian side teymourtash conducted negotiations single-handedly “without secretary keep papers in order”, according 1 scholar. resolution of outstanding differences eluded speedy resolution, however, since british side progressed more tediously due need consult many government departments.

teymourtash , benito mussolini.

the intractable challenge, however, proved teymourtash s assiduous efforts revise terms whereby anglo-persian oil company (apoc) retained near monopoly control on oil industry in iran result of concession granted william knox d arcy in 1901 qajar king of period. persians felt , teymourtash explain british counterparts in 1928, industry had been developed on own soil in had no real share .

complicating matters further, , ensuring such demands in due course set teymourtash on collision course british government reality pursuant 1914 act of british parliament, initiative championed winston churchill in capacity first lord of admiralty, led british government granted majority fifty-three percent ownership of shares of apoc. decision adopted during world war ensure british government gain critical foothold in iranian affairs protect flow of oil iran due critical importance operation of royal navy during war effort. 1920s apoc s extensive installations , pipelines in khuzestan , refinery in abadan meant company s operations in iran had led creation of greatest industrial complex in middle east.

by period, popular opposition d arcy oil concession , royalty terms whereby iran received 16 percent of net profits widespread. since industrial development , planning, other fundamental reforms predicated on oil revenues, government s lack of control on oil industry served accentuate iranian government s misgivings regarding manner in apoc conducted affairs in iran. such pervasive atmosphere of dissatisfaction seemed suggest radical revision of concession terms possible. moreover, owing introduction of reforms improved fiscal order in iran, apoc s past practise of cutting off advances in oil royalties when demands not met had lost of sting.

the attempt revise terms of oil concession on more favourable basis iran led protracted negotiations took place in tehran, lausanne, london , paris between teymourtash , chairman of apoc, first baron, sir john cadman, 1st baron cadman, spanning years 1928 1932. overarching argument revisiting terms of d arcy agreement on iranian side national wealth being squandered concession granted in 1901 previous non-constitutional government forced agree inequitable terms under duress. in order buttress position in talks british, teymourtash retained expertise of french , swiss oil experts.

teymourtash demanded revision of terms whereby iran granted 25% of apoc s total shares. counter british objections, teymourtash state if had been new concession, persian government have insisted not on 25 percent on 50–50 basis. teymourtash asked minimum guaranteed interest of 12.5% on dividends shares of company, plus 2s per ton of oil produced. in addition, specified company reduce existing area of concession. intent behind reducing area of concession push apoc operations southwest of country make possible iran approach , lure non-british oil companies develop oilfields on more generous terms in areas not part of apoc s area of concession. apart demanding more equitable share of profits of company, issue did not escape teymourtash s attention flow of transactions between apoc , various subsidiaries deprived iran of gaining accurate , reliable appreciation of apoc s full profits. such, demanded company register in tehran london, , exclusive rights of transportation of oil cancelled. in fact in midst of negotiations in 1930, iranian majles approved bill whereby apoc required pay 4 percent tax on prospective profits earned in iran.

in face of british prevarification, teymourtash decided demonstrate iranian misgivings uping ante. apart encouraging press draft editorials criticizing terms of d arcy concession, arranged dispatch delegation consisting of reza shah, , other political notables , journalists close vicinity of oilfields inaugurate newly constructed road, instructions refrain visiting oil installation in explicit show of protest.

in 1931, teymourtash travelling europe enrol crown prince mohammed reza pahlavi, , own children @ european schools, decided use occasion attempt conclude negotiations. following passage sir john cadman, 1st baron cadman confirms teymourtash worked feverishly , diligently resolve outstanding issues, , succeeded in securing agreement in principle:

came london, wined , dined , spent day , night in negotiating. many interviews took place. married daughter, put boy school [harrow], met secretary of state foreign affairs, change took place in our government, , in midst of maze of activities reached tentative agreement on principles included in new document, leaving figures , lump sum settled @ later date.

however, while teymourtash believed after 4 years of exhaustive , detailed discussions, had succeeded in navigating negotiations on road conclusive end, latest negotiations in london prove nothing more cul de sac.

matters came head in 1931, when combined effects of overabundant oil supplies on global markets , economic destabilization of depression, led fluctuations drastically reduced annual payments accruing iran fifth of had received in previous year. in year, apoc informed iranian government royalties year amount mere 366,782 pounds, while in same period company s income taxes paid british government amounted approximately 1,000,000. furthermore, while company s profits declined 36 percent year, revenues paid iranian government pursuant company s accounting practices, decreased 76 percent. such precipitous drop in royalties appeared confirm suspicions of bad faith, , teymourtash indicated parties have revisit negotiations.

however, reza shah assert authority dramatically inserting himself negotiations. monarch attended meeting of council of ministers in november 1932, , after publicly rebuking teymourtash failure secure agreement, dictated letter cabinet cancelling d arcy agreement. iranian government notified apoc cease further negotiations , demanded cancellation of d arcy concession. rejecting cancellation, british government espoused claim on behalf of apoc , brought dispute before permanent court of international justice @ hague, asserting regarded entitled take such measures situation may demand company s protection. @ point, hasan taqizadeh, new iranian minister have been entrusted task of assuming responsibility oil dossier, intimate british cancellation meant expedite negotiations , constitute political suicide iran withdraw negotiations.

teymourtash on state visit belgium wife