Taghi Kermani, Nebraskan and Native Son (1952)
| Arash Norouzi The Mossadegh Project | June 20, 2026 |
Iranian-American student Taghi ‘Tom’ Kermani (1924-2017) wrote this letter to the editor of The Lincoln Evening Journal in reaction to a syndicated column they ran by William McGaffin.
Kermani also gave a number of talks on Iran in his community. An economics major, he would earn his Masters’s Degree at the University of Nebraska in June 1952. He previously held a law degree from the University of Tehran in 1949.
He went on to become a professor of economics at Youngstown State University in Ohio and author.
Lincoln Evening Journal (Lincoln, Nebraska) | April 5, 1952
Public Mind
Iran’s Plight
LINCOLN—Reading the article, “Iran Faces Eventual Crisis” (Lincoln Journal, April 2) made me write and explain more what I, as an Iranian, believe.
Mr. McGaffin’s sympathy for us, if it is sympathy, is really appreciated, but I would like to remind him if the Iranian people are suffering it is not because of the silliness of
oil nationalization, nor for not being able
to manage their own problem. It is because of the present international situation and the failure of her friends to keep their part of the friendship as well as the Iranian nation which suffers rather than to sell her oil to another
side’s party.
Iran did not lose her markets for oil for lack of demand which remains the same no matter whether the British or Iran produces this oil. The market for Iranian oil could even be greater than before by including U.S.S.R. But Iran is
trying to keep its part of friendship and refuses to sell their product to unfriendly countries. How long can we last? No one knows but if you really are friends, stop blaming and start helping.
Advice to Mr. McGaffin. To insult a man who is accepted by a nation as a national hero will only lower you and nothing else. It is only the judgment of the native nation which shall be counted. Napoleon will always stay alive in
French hearts. Dr. Mossadegh shall be counted as an Iranian hero. [Napoleon Bonaparte, Mohammad Mossadegh]
To finish this discussion I would like to bring an Iranian proverb: “Those who look far shall never fail.” Iranians did nothing but ask for their economical freedom as Mr. Grady, former American ambassador to Iran, believed.
[Henry Grady] Freedom economically, politically and morally is every nation’s right. British nationalization of some of her greatest industries certainly did hurt some but they were done for the
benefit of the public. Iranians did the same, and are ready to pay the British all factor’s price, so there should be no hard feeling which would probably bring harm to both sides.
TAGHI KERMANI
Graduate Student of Economy,
University of Nebraska
Related links:
Iranian-American Massud Shahin Nury Defends Iran’s Oil Drive (June 1951)
Are Iranians to Be Condemned For Resisting British Colonialism? (1953 Letter)
Iranian Youth: “Iran is friendly with the West” (1951 Letter to the Editor)
MOSSADEGH t-shirts — “If I sit silently, I have sinned”
