Nationalization of the Iranian oil industry

The nationalization of the Iranian oil industry (Persian: نهضت ملی شدن صنعت نفت ایران) resulted from a movement in the Iranian parliament (Majlis) to seize control of Iran's oil industry, which had been run by private companies, largely controlled by foreign interests. The legislation was passed on 15 March 1951, and was verified by the Majlis on 17 March 1951. The legislation led to the nationalization of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC) and the formation of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC). The movement was led by Mohammad Mosaddegh, a member of the Majlis for the National Front and future prime minister of Iran.

The movement to nationalize the oil industry was the reaction to the following concessions made by Iran to foreign powers: the 1872 Reuter concession, the 1901 D'Arcy Concession, the 1933 agreement between the Iranian government and AIOC, and the 1949 Gas-Gulshaiyan Supplemental Oil Agreement. According to the political scientist Mark J. Gasiorowski, the oil nationalization movement had two major results: the establishment of a democratic government and the pursuit of Iranian national sovereignty.