TEHERAN: The US Ambassador, Henry F. Grady, hurriedly conferred with Premier Mohammad Mossadeq today [June 14] amid fears that tribal riots might blow up British-Iranian oil talks and create an international crisis.

The American Ambassador hastened to Mossadeq’s home … before six Iranian delegates and four Britons were scheduled to hold their first meeting on nationalisation of the British-controlled Anglo-Iranian Oil Company. Grady said after the conference Mossadeq did not believe reports of tribal uprisings in oil districts. The Premier said he saw no reason why discussions with the Company should not proceed on friendly terms, Grady said. Iranian Press reports said 2,000 Bakhtiari tribesmen attacked a military garrison in Haftlang and tried to disarm the troops.

[Meanwhile, news agencies from Teheran also report that] The Iranian Government … presented the British oil delegation with an ultimatum that talks could not begin until the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company agreed to pay three quarters of all proceeds on oil since March 20. That was the date Iran’s law nationalising the Company’s 500 million sterling installations was passed.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2026