The role of Esfahan's clerics in the development of the oil nationalization movement

Oil nationalization movement had a decisive influence on Iran's contemporary history and the clerics played an important role in this field. So, this article is going to evaluate the role of Esfahan’s clerics in that period of history and answer the following questions. How much the clerics were involved in mobilization and leading the popular movements in favor of the oil nationalization movement? What outcomes could they bring for the religious forces? Were they be able to attract the young generations’ attention and trust for the next struggle? Studying these questions is based on this theory that the clerics were highly influential in the society of those previous days. This is a descriptive and analytical article which is done based on archive, library and field research sources. Research findings show that Esfahan’s religious forces were able to simulate the popular movements, therefore, Ayatollah Kashani used this power for the benefit of movement. But after a dispute between the leaders of the movement, most clerics turned away from doctor Mosaddegh for different reasons including the increasing power of Tudeh party and took a conservative action against coup. Observing this attempt, most the young were disappointed from “power of religion” to continue the fight against dictatorship. This trend continued until the arrival of Ayatollah Khomeini in politics.