During the third and fourth weeks of January, the Iranian Government experienced new troubles starting with students’ demonstrations in Teheran. The demonstrations were ostensibly started against the expulsion of some students from secondary schools. But, in fact, they were for a demand for “speedy elections” and the resignation of Prime Minister Dr. Ali Amini. The demonstration raised pro-Mossadeq slogans. Later the demonstration developed into violent riots. The executive of the National Front — which includes members of the former Government of Dr. Mossadeq — called for a day of strikes and demonstrations against the Government. As a result of the riots a number of political leaders were arrested. Dr. Amini told journalists that the disturbances were created by the joint mischief of the National Front, the Tudeh (Communist) Party and landowners.

The importance of these disturbances has to be understood in the background of the Land Reform Law formulated by Dr. Amini’s Government after eight months of deliberations by experts and signed by the Shah of Iran on the eve of the disturbances. The law aims at creating the largest possible number of smallholders farming their own land, thereby increasing agricultural output. Though Dr. Amini’s Government was able to quell the violent demonstration in Teheran, yet the fact that such incidents are such frequent recurrences in Iran cannot be ignored as unimportant. This fact is an evidence that even after eight months of Dr. Amini’s rule, the opposition forces have not by any means been less articulate than before. One reason may be that Iran has not yet had sweeping reforms in the administration as were expected when Dr. Amini took charge of Government in May last. Even if Dr. Amini’s charge that the Soviet Union had a hand in engineering the students riots be true, it must be admitted that middle-class unrest has been steadily growing during recent years. The main grievance of the “enemies” of Dr. Amini’s Government is that it has not been able to push through the plans for economic and political reforms and that Dr. Amini is holding office only on account of the Shah’s pleasure. On the other hand, Dr. Amini’s difficulty is that he cannot act against corruption in high places because that may lead to a rightist coup d’etat. The National Front, which is being supported by the followers of Dr. Mossadeq and the frustrated middle class, is quite active. The Shah has not been able to hold genuinely free elections because of his fear that they might result in the extremists coming to power. [Elections were rigged in his favor]

But seen from another point of view, it would appear that the situation in Iran is full of paradox. It is said that the students who have been rioting have been inspired not only by Communist agitators but also by angry land-owners. They have been demonstrating against the land reform programme of Dr. Amini’s Government. The programme of land reform itself cannot be condemned as such. This, in fact, is a welcome radical departure from an old system of virtual serfdom. If the students are really interested in Justice and progress, the land reform law should be supported. Anyway, it is strange that the students are being inspired by both Communists and landowners. [Assuming they were.]