Samsam al-Saltaneh became the Minister of War on 26 July 1911 (1290) during the restoration of the cabinet of Sepehdar [General] Mohammad Wali Khan Tankabani.[2].

The fall of Samsam al-Saltaneh's cabinet was precipitated by a Russia’s ultimatum which gave the Iranian government 48 hours to dismiss and expel Morgan Shuster, an American financial adviser, as well as his entire staff.

The new Soviet leader, Lenin, announced the abolition of all the colonial privileges of the former tsarist government to prove his goodwill towards the weaker nations of the world.

Samsam al-Saltaneh took advantage of this opportunity and issued a statement on the 4 August 1918, canceling the 1828 Treaty of Turkmanchai and other privileges granted to Tsarist Russia.

On 8 August 1918, his cabinet passed a resolution cancelling all capitulation clauses, but three days later, Ahmad Shah summoned Samsam Ol-Saltaneh to the Golestan Palace and severely reprimanded him, ordering him to resign.