Ali P.

An opportunity found and an apportunity lost

The more amusing part of this very intersting clip is where Mossadegh is cracking a joke and bursting into laughter with Seyyed Hassan Taghizadeh (the man in white suit) while they are awaiting the royal couple's exit from the hospital.  Taghizadeh, for whom I hold immense respect not only as an astute politician but also as a great literary and scholarly figure of Iran in twentieth century, was, in my opinion wrongly, identified for the one who signed the infamous oil concession agreement of 1933 with the British and also known as representative of the British interests. Seeing Mossadegh and Taghizadeh exchanging pleasantaries and jokeful remarks is as bizarre as seeing the Pope cracking jokes with Lenin (no real comparisons intended). So here it was one opportunity found for Mossadegh to make amends with the Brits and their supporters. The next scene is the case of an opportunity lost when Mossadegh gives an audience to the American ambassador in his bedroom! I am sure he would have made a much easier a bedfellow than his British counterpart but Mossadegh, while an opportunist, always chose the wrong bedfellows.

This was his special gift.

FR