Hossein Ala'

Hosein Alā
Born	Template:Birth date Tehran, Iran
Died	July 13, 1964(1964-07-13) (aged 82)
Occupation(s)	Statesman, politician, diplomat
Years active	1905–1964
Known for	Prime Minister of Iran, Foreign Minister of Iran, Ambassador to the United States

Hosein Alā (; born 13 December 1881 – died 13 July 1964) was a prominent Iranian statesman and politician who held the office of Prime Minister of Iran on two separate occasions. He also occupied significant positions such as Foreign Minister of Iran between 1943 and 1945, as well as serving as Iran’s Ambassador to the United States from 1945 until 1950.

Early life and education

Alā entered the world in Tehran in 1881 but spent much of his childhood in London. His education included attendance at Westminster School, followed by legal studies at the University of London. He was subsequently called to the bar at Inner Temple. His entry into politics began with a role within Iran’s Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Career

At the outset of his political journey, Alā acted as chef de cabinet for the Iranian foreign ministry from 1905 through 1916. In 1919, he was part of Iran’s delegation to the Paris Peace Conference, although British resistance prevented Iran’s formal participation. After the Anglo-Iranian Agreement, he was posted overseas to mitigate opposition, initially serving as envoy to Spain in 1920 and later becoming Iran’s chief diplomat in Washington, where he aimed to attract American oil investments to counterbalance the Anglo-Persian Oil Company dominance.

Alā was also a parliamentarian who resisted the collapse of the Qajar dynasty. He held the governorship of Bank Melli Iran during two periods: from 1933 to 1934 and again from 1941 to 1942. Between 1934 and 1936, he was appointed ambassador to the United Kingdom, and from 1946 until 1950, he represented Iran as ambassador to the United States.

Following the assassination of Haj Ali Razmara, Alā was chosen as prime minister in 1951 but stepped down after less than seven weeks when Mohammad Mosaddegh introduced legislation for oil nationalisation. During this short tenure, he extended parliamentary terms from two years to four. Later, he served as Court Minister until his passing.

Alā returned to the prime ministership in 1955 and survived an assassination attempt that same November. His term ended in 1957 after an international crisis triggered by the killing of three Americans by Ahmad Shah’s outlaw gang.

In 1963, amid growing protests against Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Alā, alongside Mohammad Ali Varasteh and Abdollah Entezam, expressed reservations about the Shah’s policies, which led to their marginalisation within the royal court. Shortly after their appointments, both Alā and Entezam were removed from the Iranian Senate.

Personal life and death

Alā passed away due to pneumonia on 13 July 1964 at the age of 82. He left behind his wife, who died in 1981, a son, and a daughter. His son, Fereydoun Ala, established the National Iranian Blood Transfusion Service and holds an honorary presidency at the Iranian Comprehensive Haemophilia Care Center. His daughter, Irān, is married to Eskandar Firouz, a renowned authority on Iranian wildlife and environmental matters.

Honours and awards

• Order of the Crown, First Class
• Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Sash for Services to the Republic of Austria (1958)

See also

• List of Iranian ambassadors to the United States
• List of Iranian prime ministers

References and sources

References

Sources

Alí Rizā Awsatí, Iran over the Last Three Centuries (Irān dar Se Qarn-e Goz̲ashteh), Volumes 1 and 2 (Paktāb Publishing, Tehran, 2003). ISBNs: 964-93406-6-1 (Vol. 1), 964-93406-5-3 (Vol. 2).