Eftekhar Belarashk

The Pahlavi regime during its 57 years of reign ruled over the country with black dictatorship and violence. Though there were some opposition groups and parties, subsequent to the 1953 coup, the plurality of parties became restricted to two parties: Iran Novin (Modern Iran) party, and Mardom (nation) party. The two parties were controlled by the Shah. However this system of dual parties was a failure. Since, the Shah announced in a great radio and TV conference the merge of all parties within on great party called  Hezbe Rastakhiz Mellete Iran (Resurrection Party of Iranian Nation) according to rule 3 of the Royal system, the constitution and the revolution of the Shah and the nation. This party was active in many areas and published books and journals strengthening the government. The party, membership of which was done with reluctance was dissolved in the fall of 1978.

The existing documents in the IICHS on the Rastakhiz Party pertain to various issues including membership, appointments, and the name list of the officials of the Party among which 8 records have been chosen. The subject matter of the records are related to the budget of the party in 1977 and 1978, the holding of the appointment by the deputy minister of labor and social affairs, Abbasspur, the critical letter of Manuchehr Yazdi, the majlis member from Ardakan, on the behavior of the party members, and fraud in the election of the executive board of the party, the order for the formation of bureaus to take members from all over the country, inviting competent professors for the modulation of the statute of the party, unneeded middling of Dr. Chehrazi in such affairs as the public health centers, and the religious disputes between the Shiites and the Sunnis in Bandar Lenge, and the criminal records of some of the party officials.