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| 1949, Oct |
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| Formation of the NATIONAL FRONT under the leadership of MUHAMMAD MUSADDIQ. The front was composed of three main groups: political factions opposed to the shah, politicians connected to the bazaars and the religious establishment, and Western-educated intellectuals who for the most part were young and radical. The original program of the coalition called for freedom of the press, free and honest elections, and the promotion of social justice. The National Front later became identified with Musaddiq's nationalization of the oil industry. | 1 |
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| 1950–75 |
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| Growth of the bureaucracy from 130,000 to approximately 500,000 civil servants. | 2 |
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| 1951 |
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| Death of Sadiq Hidayat (b. 1903), one of the founders of modern Persian literature. He was celebrated for his innovative novels and short stories, particularly The Blind Owl. | 3 |
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| March 20 |
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| NATIONALIZATION OF THE OIL INDUSTRY by the Majlis, which then appointed MUHAMMAD MUSADDIQ as the new prime minister. In retaliation, the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company suspended production at the Abadan refinery (Oct. 1951). | 4 |
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