Center for Islamic Truth Dissemination in the Arena of National Contests

One of the influential religious groups in national contests was the Center for Islamic Truth Dissemination in Mashhad in 1323، which had been founded byMuhammad TaqiShariati. With the advent of Oil Nationalization Movement، the activities of this center went beyond cultural activities and included political ones. On the eve of the seventeenth parliamentary election، Shariati became the most prominent figure within the communities of Islamic associations that had made coalition under the title of Islamic Coalition Party. The members of the Center tried their best for him to be selected. Within the disagreement caused between Ayatollah Kashani and Dr. Mohammed Mossadegh in Oil Nationalization Movement، the Center، despite its Islamic views and its former support of Ayatollah Kashani، continued supporting Mossadegh up to the end، as it saw his ideas more aligned with its programs. The Center turned into a base for proponents of Mossadegh until it was closed for the first time after the Iranian coup d''état on Mordad 28 till summer 1336. The present study، as well as investigating the causes of Oil Nationalization Movement، studies the status and the degree of influence of the Center for Islamic Truths Dissemination، and explores the factors which resulted in actions like formation of Islamic Coalition Party and the political activities of the Center in the fights، up to the end of Mossadegh government and National Movement period.