Prerequisites for the formation of the «Movement for the freedom of Iran»: Mehdi Bazargan and the national-religious opposition in the 1950s - early 1960s

The article discusses the prerequisites for the foundation of the «Movement for the Freedom of Iran», as well as the role of Mehdi Bazargan and the national-religious opposition in the 1950s - 1960s in the emergence of this movement. The base was the events in Iran of the early 1950s connected to the nationalization of the oil industry, initiated by Mohammad Mossadegh and the coup of August 1953 that followed them. The opposition managed to form the «National Resistance Movement», within which Bazargan and the national-religious opposition waged an agitation struggle against the government. Being imprisoned in 1955, Bazargan concluded that only educational activities and the dissemination of the principles of Islam and democracy among the masses could cleanse the political atmosphere of the country from lawlessness. Immediately after his release, he and his supporters created the MATA’ organization, which made it possible to expand the social base. In 1960, Bazargan initiated the creation of the second National Front, which united the entire national-religious opposition of Iran to participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections. However, due to ideological differences, Bazargan establishes his own political organization - the «Movement for the Freedom of Iran», already consisting of his like-minded people.