Abstract
The main issue of this research is the examination and analysis of the positions and ideology of the Nation of Iran Party based on Pan-Iranism in the domains of domestic and foreign policy from its founding up to the coup d’état of august 19, 1953. This article employs a descriptive-analytical approach, using archival documents and historical sources. After the Allied invasion of Iran in September 1941, the abdication of Reza Shah, and the emergence of a relatively open political environment, several political parties were formed. In a context where the country was grappling with foreign intervention, the rise of separatist movements, and the growing influence of the Tudeh Party in Iranian politics, the Nation of Iran Party—bearing nationalist tendencies—entered the political scene.
The Nation of Iran Party based its ideological principles on nationalism and believed that any political action must serve national interests. They asserted that the government’s primary aim should be the unification of all Iranian ethnic groups and the reclamation of lost territories. Fundamental demands of the party included the recovery of Bahrain from Britain and the non-recognition of states such as Pakistan and the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. Therefore, they adopted the slogan "The Iranian Plateau under One Flag." The party’s solution to overcoming domestic and foreign crises was nationalizing industries, achieving economic self-sufficiency, and cutting dependency on foreign powers. The positions of the newspaper Apadana, as the official organ of the Nation of Iran Party, reflect the party’s viewpoints.
Keywords: Iran's Nation Party, Apadana newspaper, Foreign policy, Domestic politics, oil industry nationalization movement.
 
Introduction
One of the critical issues in modern Iranian history is the study of political parties and their activities. During the 1940s and 1950s, political parties and their leaders were instrumental in shaping many socio-political developments, with some parties playing particularly significant roles due to specific reasons. This study seeks to explore and analyze the position, performance, and stances of the Nation of Iran Party during several key historical junctures, shedding light on certain aspects of contemporary Iranian history.
The origins of Iranian nationalism can be traced back to the Qajar era, especially during Iran’s military confrontations with Russia and other European powers. Iranian nationalism emerged as a response to encounters with Europe and the growing awareness of Iran’s backwardness. These military defeats alarmed the country's elite. For those previously unaware of Western advancements, these events were a rude awakening. However, the Qajar statesmen responded to this shock using traditional principles and perspectives, which only led to further defeats and a deeper realization of the crisis.
Initial evaluations of the problem emphasized Iran's military weakness and sought to remedy this by reforming the armed forces. This manifested in Abbas Mirza’s and other Qajar reformists’ efforts to establish a new military system and send students to Europe for military education. These students’ direct experiences in Europe led them to promote modernist ideas. During Naser al-Din Shah's reign, nationalism became one of the prominent responses to Iran’s backwardness.
Several intellectuals played a decisive role in shaping this nationalist discourse. Mirza Aqa Khan Kermani and Mirza Fathali Akhundzadeh were particularly influential in the formation and development of this ideological identity. Though their ideas did not find great success during their lifetimes, they gained more traction during and after the Constitutional Revolution. Gradually, with the rise of the Pahlavi dynasty, nationalist ideologies became the official ideology of the state. However, the Allied occupation of Iran led to changes in nationalist sentiments, especially by reinforcing its anti-colonial dimensions.
One of the outcomes of the Allied invasion of Iran on September 3, 1941, and the abdication of Reza Shah was the emergence of a freer political atmosphere, resulting in the formation of various political parties and organizations. The Allied occupation and Reza Shah’s inability to resist the occupiers led to significant political changes in the country. On the one hand, the open political environment enabled the Soviet-backed Tudeh Party to carry out extensive domestic activities. On the other hand, in 1945, the Azerbaijani Democratic Party, led by Sayyed Ja’far Pishevari, demanded the secession of Azerbaijan from Iran. These developments, alongside Britain’s imperial ambitions and its exploitation of Iranian oil resources, led to the emergence of nationalist and anti-colonial parties.
 
Materials & Methods
This research was conducted using a descriptive-analytical approach and a documentary method. The primary sources include archival documents, historical newspapers—particularly Apadana, the official organ of the Nation of Iran Party—historical books, academic articles, and theoretical writings related to nationalism and Pan-Iranism. Data was collected mainly from printed sources spanning the years 1950 to 1953 (1329–1332 SH) and analyzed through content analysis and comparative review to extract and evaluate the domestic and foreign policy positions of the Nation of Iran Party.
 
Discussion & Results
The analysis of the Nation of Iran Party's positions reveals a nationalist discourse rooted in Pan-Iranism, which manifested both in domestic and foreign policy. Domestically, the party advocated for economic independence, nationalization of industries, opposition to capitalism, and rejection of foreign domination—seeking to build a national, self-sufficient economy. Culturally, it emphasized reviving pre-Islamic Iranian values, preserving the Persian language, and promoting Iranian heritage.
In terms of foreign policy, the party adopted a transnational and idealistic vision, calling for the reclamation of lost Iranian territories such as Bahrain, the Caucasus, and Afghanistan, and supporting ethnically and culturally related groups like Kurds, Tajiks, and Shiites. Although such goals were largely impractical given the lack of military and political capabilities and the realities of international relations, they served as powerful ideological drivers for nationalist youth and intellectuals.
The party’s wholehearted support for Dr. Mossadegh and the oil nationalization movement—through public demonstrations, street clashes, and publication of articles in Apadana—reflected the deep alignment between Pan-Iranist ideology and anti-colonial, independence-seeking ideals. However, the party’s racial and anti-Semitic stances, frequently expressed in Apadana, represent a significant ideological flaw and stand in contrast to rights-based, modern political discourse.
 
Conclusion
The Allied invasion of Iran in September 1941 and the consequent fall of Reza Shah ushered in a new political environment characterized by the absence of a strong central government and the increasing rivalry among three major powers—Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union—in Iranian politics. Amidst the newly opened political space and foreign powers' attempts to assert influence, numerous parties and publications emerged and became active. It was in this context that the Nation of Iran Party, based on Pan-Iranist ideology, entered the political arena.
The leaders of the Nation of Iran Party grounded their ideological principles in nationalism, believing that all political decisions should serve national interests. They held that the state’s primary objective should be to unify all Iranian ethnicities and reclaim lost territories. Key demands of the party included the retrieval of Bahrain from British control and the non-recognition of countries such as Pakistan and the Azerbaijan SSR. As such, they adopted the slogan “The Iranian Plateau under One Flag.” While such slogans may have bolstered nationalist sentiments and Iranian unity—and served to warn foreign powers against their separatist agendas—they did not address the more urgent national crises of the time, namely the need to eliminate foreign influence, confront separatist movements, and stabilize the country.
Furthermore, the realization of these unification goals required a strong and capable government, a modern army, and a robust, advanced economy—resources Iran lacked at the time. To achieve these objectives, the party advocated for policies such as nationalizing industries, promoting economic self-sufficiency, and reducing dependence on major global powers.
The foundation and activities of the Nation of Iran Party based on Pan-Iranism coincided with one of the most significant periods in Iranian history: the nationalization of the oil industry and the premiership of Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh. The party supported the nationalization of the oil industry as a means to curb colonial powers’ influence and protect national interests. Through its publication, Apadana, the party praised Dr. Mossadegh’s actions.
From the beginning of the oil nationalization movement and the formation of the National Front—of which the Nation of Iran Party was a key and influential member—until the coup of August 19, 1953, the party fully supported Dr. Mossadegh. This support manifested in participation in protests and street clashes with Mossadegh’s opponents, organizing speeches, publishing their newspaper Apadana, and distributing flyers.