Mob demonstrations are nothing new in Tehran, but seldom has Iran’s embattled capital seen so many different factions trying to get into the act as in the riots reported over the weekend.

When a group of demonstrators, allegedly led by disgruntled former army officers, chased Premier Mohammed Mossadegh in his pajamas from his house to his traditional sanctuary in the Parliament building, it looked as if the aged Nationalist leader might be on the way out.

But it didn’t take long for his supporters to get into action. They tangled with followers of the Premier’s political foe, the Moslem high priest Ayatullah Kashani, [Ayatollah Seyed Abolghassem Kashani] and even with members of the outlawed Communist Tudeh Party who were trying to join the Mossadegh backers for reasons of their own. Object of the mobs’ wrath even included several American diplomatic representatives.

It is apparent that some of the demonstrators were for the Shah, some for Dr. Mossadegh and some for Kashani. It also is apparent that the Mossadegh group finally gained the upper hand, with Government agents busy making arrests right and left.

What the outcome of the obvious unrest will be is anybody’s guess. Right now it looks as if the Premier still is in control, if somewhat shakily. How long he can hold on, and what happens if he doesn’t, seems exceedingly problematical. In any event, Iran’s immediate future appears to be built on an unenviably high level of intrigue and insecurity.