---
born: 1907-09-01
category: Iran-Contra
died: 1995-01-20
location: Tehran, Iran
summary: First prime minister of revolutionary Iran under Khomeini who sought to normalize
  relations with the U.S. before being ousted by extremists.
tags:
- Person
- IranContra
- Israel
- Military
---

[Mehdi Bazargan](/people/mehdi-bazargan/) was the first prime minister appointed by the revolutionary government of [Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini](/people/ayatollah-ruhollah-khomeini/) in [Iran](/places/iran/). He was a member of the National Front and a supporter of [Mohammed Mossadegh](/people/mohammed-mossadegh/), representing [Khomeini's](/people/ayatollah-ruhollah-khomeini/) compromise between the fundamentalists and the middle class.[^1]

[Bazargan](/people/mehdi-bazargan/) believed that both the [Soviets](/places/soviet-union/) and the [U.S.](/places/united-states/) were evil, but preferred the [U.S.](/places/united-states/) to the "godless communists." He sought to normalize relations with [Washington, D.C.](/places/washington-dc/) and allowed the [U.S.](/places/united-states/) Embassy in [Tehran](/places/tehran/) to operate, continuing to deal with the [Americans](/places/united-states/).[^1]

[Bazargan's](/people/mehdi-bazargan/) faction was in a tense power struggle with extremist fundamentalist groups who opposed any relationship with the [U.S.](/places/united-states/). [Israeli](/places/israel/) intelligence, concerned about an imminent [Iraqi](/places/iraq/) attack on [Iran](/places/iran/), urged [President Carter](/people/jimmy-carter/) to support [Bazargan's](/people/mehdi-bazargan/) government, as he was willing to negotiate with the [Americans](/places/united-states/) and accept help in reorganizing his military. However, the [Carter](/people/jimmy-carter/) administration adopted a hands-off policy.[^1]

[Bazargan](/people/mehdi-bazargan/) desperately needed [American](/places/united-states/) arms and help against the [Iraqi](/places/iraq/) threat. He resigned on November 4, 1979, after radical "students" took over the [U.S.](/places/united-states/) Embassy and held staff hostage, a desperate attempt to draw attention to themselves due to the lack of [American](/places/united-states/) aid.[^1]

[Earl Brian](/people/earl-brian/) and [Robert McFarlane](/people/robert-mcfarlane/) arranged a meeting with [Bazargan](/people/mehdi-bazargan/) in late January 1980 in [Tehran](/places/tehran/) to discuss the hostage situation. [Bazargan](/people/mehdi-bazargan/) was still thought to be very close to [Khomeini](/people/ayatollah-ruhollah-khomeini/) and [Hojjat El-Islam Mehdi Karrubi](/people/mehdi-karrubi/).[^1]

[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992.