Iranian coup d’état Ousting Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh

The 1953 Iranian coup d’état, also known as Operation Ajax, was a covert operation orchestrated by the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the United Kingdom’s Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) to overthrow Iran’s democratically-elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh. Mossadegh’s nationalization of the Iranian oil industry and his efforts to reduce foreign influence in Iran had led to tensions with Western powers, particularly the UK.

In April 1951, Mohammad Mossadegh became Prime Minister of Iran. He nationalized the Iranian oil industry, previously controlled by the British-owned Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (later British Petroleum, or BP). This move led to a boycott of Iranian oil by the UK and its allies, causing economic turmoil in Iran. In response to Mossadegh’s policies and the growing influence of communism in Iran, the United States and the United Kingdom orchestrated a coup to remove him from power.

• On August 19, 1953, the coup led by CIA agent Kermit Roosevelt Jr. and MI6 operative Donald Wilber successfully ousted Mossadegh, and Iran’s monarch, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, was reinstated with increased authority. Mossadegh was arrested, tried, and placed under house arrest until his death in 1967.
• Operation Ajax was the CIA’s first covert operation to overthrow a foreign government.
• The CIA officially acknowledged its role in the coup in 2013, when it released previously classified documents related to Operation Ajax.
• The Shah’s reign following the coup lasted until the Iranian Revolution in 1979, which led to the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Effects on Pop Culture: The Iranian coup d’état and its aftermath have influenced popular culture, particularly in literature, film, and political discourse. Some examples include:

• The novel and subsequent film “The Falcon and the Snowman” (1979) explore themes of espionage and government corruption, partly inspired by the events surrounding the Iranian coup.
• The film “Argo” (2012), which won the Academy Award for Best Picture, is based on the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis and touches upon the historical context of the coup and its consequences.
• The coup has been referenced and discussed in various political documentaries, such as “The End of Empire: Iran” (1985) and “The Oil Factor: Behind the War on Terror” (2005).

Prominent People and Countries Involved:

• Mohammad Mossadegh: The democratically-elected Prime Minister of Iran, who was ousted in the coup due to his nationalization of the Iranian oil industry and his attempts to reduce foreign influence.
• Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi: The Shah of Iran was reinstated with increased authority following the coup and ruled until the Iranian Revolution in 1979.
• The United States: The U.S., through the CIA, played a significant role in orchestrating and executing the coup in response to concerns about Mossadegh’s policies and the growing influence of communism in Iran.
• The United Kingdom: The UK, via MI6, was heavily involved in planning and carrying out the coup in response to the nationalization of the Iranian oil industry, which threatened British interests in the region.

In conclusion, the 1953 Iranian coup d’état was a pivotal event in the history of Iran and U.S.-Iran relations, as it led to the ousting of Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh and the reinstatement of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The coup had significant long-term consequences, including the consolidation of power under the Shah, which ultimately contributed to the Iranian Revolution in 1979 and the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The event has also had a lasting impact on popular culture, influencing literature and film and shaping the discourse around the role of foreign intervention in the political affairs of other nations. The involvement of the United States and the United Kingdom in the coup continues to shape the political landscape and the perceptions of these countries in the Middle East.