Ali Amini

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Ali Amini

Ali Amini (1905–1992) was the Prime Minister of Iran from May 6, 1961 to July 19, 1962.

Born in 1905 in Tehran, his grand father was a chancellor of the Qajar Dynasty. He completed his studies first in Darolfonoon and then in France where he graduated with a degree in Law from Grenoble University, followed by his Ph.D in Economics from Paris.

He became involved in politics through the help of Ali Akbar Davar who gave him a position in the Judiciary.

At the age of 37, he was selected as a Minister to serve in the cabinet of Ahmad Ghavam. His tendencies were pro-American to the extent that made the Shah uncomfortable. Muhammad Reza Shah in particular distrusted Amini's popularity and friendship with John F. Kennedy.

During the 1950s, the Shah came under increasing pressure from the United States to appoint Amini as Prime Minister. Amini was finally declared Prime Minister in 1961. In 1962, however, he was replaced by the Shah's close friend and a major Birjand landowner Asadollah Alam.

In the late 1970s, Amini attempted a comeback into Iranian politics at the age of 70. He served as advisor to the Shah during the final days of the Pahlavi Dynasty.