National Resistance Movement of Iran

National Movement of the Iranian Resistance
Abbreviation NAMIR[1]:124
Military wing commander Fereydoun Djam[1]:146
Founder Shapour Bakhtiar
Founded Summer 1979 (1979) (Initial activity)[1]:81
August 1980 (Official)[1]:124
Dissolved 1991[1]:60
Headquarters Paris, France
Ideology Nationalism
Liberalism
Secularism
Monarchism
Political position Centre-left[1]:144
Slogan "Iran Will Never Die"[1]:124

The National Movement of the Iranian Resistance (NAMIR; Persian: نهضت مقاومت ملی ایران‎) was a political organization founded by Shapour Bakhtiar in 1979. An exiled opposition to the Islamic Republic regime, the organization pursued a convergence of nationalism and constitutional liberalism[1]:50 and its membership included liberals, conservatives, and democratic socialists, as well as monarchists of a constitutional nature.[1]:52

Leadership

Other than Bakhtiar, who was the leader of the party, three senior members served in the capacity of the Chairman of Executive Committee: Abdolrahman Boroomand (1980–1987; March–August 1991) Mohammad Moshiri (March 1987–July 1989), Sadegh Sadireh (July 1989–March 1991).[1]:293–294

Financial sources

Soon after its establishment, the organization received some $500,000 contribution from Ashraf Pahlavi.[1]:125 Manouchehr Ghorbanifar allegedly provided them with $10 million,[1]:147 while Ba'athist Iraq also funded the organization with $30 million to $70, plus a $200–250,000 monthly stipend.[1]:187 In March 1986, the organization received contribution sum to the tune of US$100,000/month from the United States. However it was not a CIA initiative, but come directly from above by policymakers.[1]:209 According to Abbas Gholi Bakhtiar (Bakhtiar's cousin and a NAMIR member in charge of propaganda section), he was given a personal gift to the sum of $2 million from Saudi Arabia in 1989.[1]:268

Relations with other opposition groups

The organizations condemned the National Council of Resistance of Iran and rejected any notions of cooperation with the organization founded by Masoud Rajavi of the MEK and Abolhassan Banisadr, President of Iran removed from the office. In 1981, they formed an alliance with the Azadegan Organization, led by Bahram Aryana.[1]:129 They also maintained good relationship with Reza Pahlavi II and Ali Amini.[1]:231, 291–3

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Khonsari, Mehrdad (1995). The National Movement of the Iranian Resistance 1979-1991: The role of a banned opposition movement in international politics (Ph.D. thesis). London School of Economics and Political Science.


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