Dr. Hossein Fatemi Biography :: Mohammad Mossadegh.com

Dr. Hossein Fatemi Biography

Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs, 1951-1953

Dr. Hossein Fatemi (1919-1954) began his career as a journalist while in his late teens writing for "Bakhtar" newspaper, and later founded and edited "Bakhtar-e-Emrouz" newspaper. Fatemi became an active member of the democratic and nationalist movement led by Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh, eventually serving in Mossadegh's cabinet as Assistant to the Prime Minister, Tehran Deputy in the Parliament, and, at the age of 33, as the youngest Foreign Minister in Iran's history. He is considered by many to be the most loyal and dedicated colleague of Dr. Mossadegh.

A fiery speaker and writer, Fatemi was a formidable opponent of those whom he considered the enemy of Iranian independence, whether foreign and domestic, not the least being the Shah, British colonial power, and those working against the interests of the Iranian people.

In his first 1942 editorial for "Bakhtar", he wrote under the heading of "God, Iran, Freedom":

". . .with God's help, in service to Iran and freedom, we are entering the battle ground holding a pen in hand. We are aware of difficulties and obstacles in our path but ready to face them. The goal is to serve the nation and the cause of freedom. We will fight fearlessly but with honesty and civility, peeling away the curtain to reveal the truth".

In 1944 he travelled to Europe to participate in an international conference and began to study journalism in Paris. He returned to Iran in 1948 after being awarded the Doctorate degree in Journalism.

In 1951 Dr. Fatemi suffered a crippling assassination attempt while attending the anniversary of his fallen journalist comrade, Mohammad Masoud, who himself was a victim of political assassination a year before. In the same year he managed to accompany Mossadegh to the U.S. where Mossadegh appeared before the U.N. Security Council to personally defend Iran's oil nationalization.

In the last issue of his newspaper published in the eve of the August 19, 1953 coup, he blasted the destructive 150 year history of colonial Britain in the east and sharply criticized the shah, his sister and mother's for their "crimes against the people of Iran and freedom". He accused the Shah's court of acting as the British embassy and lambasted the Shah's willingness to push a dagger in the heart of his countrymen whenever he could.

In hiding for several months after the 1953 coup, Fatemi was found and arrested. While being taken to the police station he was repeatedly stabbed by the new government of General Zahedi's hired thugs.

On November 10, 1954, at the age of 35, still suffering from the wounds of the assassination attempt and with fever, he was executed by the Shah's firing squad. It is reported that while being tied to a post and just before eight bullets pierced his body he shouted three times:

"Long live freedom, long live Mossadegh, Iran forever".

Dr. Hossein Fatemi was a brilliant and highly courageous home grown revolutionary who combined high ethical standards with an energetic and imaginative approach to heal the ills of his country. When Iran faced Britain's obstinacy in making a fair oil deal, he suggested to nationalize the industry. He was also the originator of several other ideas, such as bringing together various political parties to create the National Front and working toward establishing an economy not relied on oil export.

Dr. Mossadegh, during his years in house arrest following the coup, wrote:

"If nationalization of oil is considered a great service for Iranian nation, we must give thanks to the person who initiated the idea. He was the nation's martyr, Dr. Hossein Fatemi. During his long collaboration with me I never witnessed a slightest crack in his determination or hesitation in his loyalty from this great man."

April 8, 2008 - Islamic Republic News Agency [IRNA]:

President Ahmadinejad hails former Foreign Minister Fatemi

Tehran, April 8, IRNA

President Ahmadinejad in a meeting with the spouse of late Foreign Minister Hossein Fatemi said he resisted bravely and history will always remember him.

According to the Presidential Office website on Monday, the president said, "Young generation and coming generations should know about great personalities like Dr. Fatemi, who are the assets of the nation." Ahmadinejad added late Dr. Fatemi tolerated torture and cruelties in prison but resisted bravely against his enemies.

Wife of late Fatemi presented his husband's memoir to President Ahmadinejad.

Late Dr. Hossein Fatemi was foreign minister of Dr. Mohammad Mossadeq cabinet in 1953, who nationalized oil industry in Iran.

After a coup d'etat in August, 1953, Fatemi was detained and later executed.