Jafar Sharif-Emami

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Jafar Sharif-Emami
Sharifemami.jpg
66th & 72nd Prime Minister of Iran
In office
27 August 1978 – 6 November 1978
Monarch Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Deputy Gholam-Reza Azhari
Preceded by Jamshid Amouzegar
Succeeded by Gholam Reza Azhari
In office
31 August 1960 – 5 May 1961
Monarch Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Preceded by Manouchehr Eghbal
Succeeded by Ali Amini
President of the Senate
In office
11 September 1964 – 24 March 1978
Monarch Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Preceded by Mohsen Sadr
Succeeded by Mohammad Sajadi
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
30 July 1960 – 1 December 1960
Prime Minister Manouchehr Eghbal
Preceded by Abbas Aram
Succeeded by Ghods-Nakhai
Personal details
Born 8 September 1910
Tehran, Iran
Died June 6, 1998(1998-06-06) (aged 87)
New York City, United States
Political party Rastakhiz (1975-1977)
Other political
affiliations
Nationalist Party (1950-1975)
Spouse(s) Zahra Sharif Emami
Alma mater Tehran University
Religion Shia Islam

Jafar Sharif-Imami (September 8, 1910 - June 16, 1998) 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 of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.[1]

Overview[edit]

Mohammad-Reza Shah welcomes Sharif Emami and his government in Niavaran Palace
Sharif-Emami as President of Senate

Sharif-Emami was Born in Tehran on September 8, 1910 to a clerical family. After high school, Sharif-Emami was sent (along with thirty other young men) to Germany where he studied for eighteen months, returning to Iran in 1930 to work with State Railroad Organization until the Anglo-Soviet Invasion. Years later he was sent to Sweden for technical training, returning in 1939.[1] Held in detention by the invaders.

Arrested in summer of 1943 for alleged ties to Germany he was kept in detention along with many other members of Iran's elite. After his release he was appointed director general of the Irrigation Agency.[1] In June 1950, prime minister and General Haj-Ali Razmara appointed him acting minister and then minister of roads, his first cabinet post.[1]

He served as a Minister in Manuchehr Eqbal's cabinet.[2] He became Prime Minister in 1960 and again in 1978 a few months before the overthrow of the Shah. He was appointed prime minister by Shah on August 27, 1978 because of his ties to clergy. During his short tenure, he undid many of the Shah's plans including the closing of casinos (owned by Pahlavi Foundation,which ironically he was the chairman for many years), abandoning the Imperial calendar, abolishing the Rastakhiz Party and allowing all political parties to be active.[2] All of his efforts to reform the political system in Iran, was overshadowed by the Black Friday massacre in Jaleh Square (September 8, 1978), mass protests, martial law and nationwide strikes, which brought the country's economy to its knees. He resigned his post on November 6, 1978.[2]

For some years he was also the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Iran, which gave him some informal influence among Iran's political elite.[1]

He died on June 16, 1998 in New York City.[2]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Memoirs of Sharif-Emami, Prime Minister
  2. ^ a b c d '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).
Political offices
Preceded by
Abbas Aram
Minister of Foreign Affairs
1960
Succeeded by
Hossein Ghods-Nakhai
Preceded by
Manouchehr Eghbal
Prime Minister of Iran
1960-1961
Succeeded by
Ali Amini
Preceded by
Mohsen Sadr
President of the Senate
1964-1978
Succeeded by
Mohammad Sajadi
Preceded by
Jamshid Amouzegar
Prime Minister of Iran
1978
Succeeded by
Gholam Reza Azhari