At the time, Iran was being plundered out of its resources by the British and Russians who had also obtained taxation rights on all significant sources, keeping the county and some of the ruling class under effective financial control. Realizing that a country cannot be independent without self sufficiency and monetary independence, he initiated financial reforms and the overhaul of the taxation system, including bringing in the American adviser
William Morgan Shuster. He also proposed the creation of Iran's first museum, the
National Museum of Iran. His activities with regards to his financial reforms led to his assassination by the Russians on 6 February 1911. His assassination wasconducted by two Georgian nationals in Tehran. ==References==