"Kanoon Motaraghion" (The Progressive Party), Rise and Fall

This paper reviews the shaping steps and continuation of Kanoon Moteraghion activities during 1960-1965. The author firstly notes to US policies in its allied countries after the beginning the Cold War and considers these policies as the preliminaries for shaping Kanoon Moteraghion in Iran. Then based on the existing documents about Kanoon Moteraghion articles of association and manifest, the aims and principals of this party would be introduced. In this regard the main figures of this party, particularly its leader Hassan Ali Mansour and their relations with the Americans are also introduced. The transition from Kanoon Moteragion to Iran Novin Party after its success in winning 21 parliamentary elections that finally resulted in Hassan Ali Mansour premiership in March 6th 1964 would be discussed in full details. And then it will be shown that main goal of his premiership was executing modernist policies and secularization of Iranian society. After the assassination of Hassan Ali Mansour the differences inside the Iran Novin Party and Kanoon Moteragion rises and since there was no substituting leader for him, Kanoon Moteragion was practically removed from the political and social Iranian arena.