Draft:Ahmad Ārāmesh

Ahmad Aramesh (1908 – October 20, 1973) was an Iranian politician, journalist, and pro-democracy activist. He served as the editor-in-chief of Bahram newspaper, director of Diplomat newspaper, and was a prominent member of the Iran Democratic Party.

Early Life and Career
Aramesh was born in 1908 into the Ashtari family in Yazd, a family of old accountants. At age 19, he began working as a teacher in the Yazd Education Department. A few years later, he moved to Tehran and studied at the American College of Tehran (later Alborz High School) while also working for the Railway Organization and briefly at the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company in Abadan.

He went on to study political economy and rose through the ranks to become the head of accounting for northern ports, roads, and streets. In 1941, he was transferred to the Ministry of Trades and Crafts as the head of accounting. With the rise of Qavam al-Saltaneh's government in 1945, Aramesh was promoted to deputy minister of Commerce and Trades. He also served on the Supreme Economic Council, Supreme Labor Council, and in 1954 became a member of the supervisory board of the Plan Organization.

Political Activities
Aramesh became involved in politics through the Iran Democratic Party founded by Qavam al-Saltaneh in 1945 to counter the Tudeh Party and Azerbaijan Democratic Party. He took charge of the party's propaganda commission and later served as its secretary-general for a period.

In 1960, during Jafar Sharif-Emami' s first cabinet, Aramesh was appointed advisory minister and managing director of the Planning and budget Organization. However, he soon exposed political and administrative corruption in the parliament, leading to his impeachment and imprisonment. The security apparatus falsely claimed he had opened fire on officers and was killed in retaliation.

Criticism of Foreign Influence
Aramesh was a vocal critic of American presence in Iran, which is believed to be one of the reasons for his eventual murder. He founded the "Progressives" group in 1955 and frequently questioned foreign influence in articles published in Tehran Mosavvar magazine. His writings also supported Palestinian rights and condemned the actions of American and British oil companies in the Middle East, provoking reactions from Prime Minister Manouchehr Eghbal, who tore up copies of the magazine in parliament.

Imprisonment and Later Life
In 1961, Aramesh was arrested but released due to lack of evidence. He continued criticizing the government, leading to the founding of the "Committee of Iranian Republicans" in 1965. The group questioned the 1953 coup and the Shah's rule, resulting in Aramesh's re-arrest after a military trial. He spent around seven years in prison, with the last three in solitary confinement.

After his release in 1972, Aramesh lived briefly with his daughter before being forced to relocate to the Sina Hotel due to warnings from SAVAK, the intelligence agency. Rumors spread about his alleged moral issues and gambling debts, which his family denied.

Assassination
On October 20, 1973, Aramesh was killed in Farah (Laleh) Park in Tehran. Authorities claimed he was shot in a confrontation with officers after a meeting with a communist saboteur. However, it was widely believed that SAVAK assassinated him due to his pro-democracy activism and writings envisioning an Iranian Republic.

Legacy
Aramesh's grave is located in section 7, row 53, number 30 of Tehran's Behesht-e Zahra cemetery. He is remembered as a devoted advocate for the Iranian people, fighting against oppression and injustice through his writings and political activities. His dream of an Iranian Republic remained unfulfilled during his lifetime but inspired later pro-democracy movements.