On December 9, 2022, the Iran 1400 Project spoke with Dr. Masoud Kazemzadeh about his new book The Iran National Front and the Struggle for Democracy 1949–Present. In a lively conversation, Dr. Kazemzadeh recounted the history of the Iran National Front (INF), from its establishment in 1949 during the period of Mohammad Reza Shah, to the overthrow of its leader, Mohammad Mossadegh in 1953, to their present activities today under the Islamic Republic. Making a clear distinction between the political situation under the Shah and that of the Islamic Republic, he analyzed the actions of the INF under each period. The Q&A session touched on a variety of topics, with a strong focus on the current protests in Iran, what they mean for the future of the country, and what role, if any, the INF should play in them.
Dr. Masoud Kazemzadeh is an associate professor of political science at Sam Houston State University. His research interests include democratization, the post-Cold War international system, terrorism, Islamic fundamentalism, and U.S. Foreign Policy.
