Iran coup

Iran coup. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and MI6 orchestrated the coup, which led to the overthrow of the democratically-elected Prime Minister of Iran, Mohammad Mosaddegh, in favor of the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. This event was influenced by the Cold War and the interests of British Petroleum (BP) and other oil companies, such as Royal Dutch Shell and Standard Oil. The coup was also supported by the United States Department of State and the British Foreign Office, with key figures like Winston Churchill, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and John Foster Dulles playing important roles.

Background

The Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC), later known as British Petroleum (BP), had controlled Iran's oil industry since the early 20th century, with the Qajar dynasty and later the Pahlavi dynasty holding significant power. However, the Iranian Parliament and Mohammad Mosaddegh's National Front of Iran sought to nationalize the oil industry, leading to a conflict with British Petroleum and the British government, which involved figures like Hermann Göring and Joseph Stalin. The United States initially supported Iran's nationalization efforts, but later changed its stance due to the influence of the Cold War and the Truman Doctrine, as well as the involvement of Dean Acheson and George Kennan. The CIA and MI6 began to conspire against Mohammad Mosaddegh, with the support of the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and other key figures like Allen Dulles and Kermit Roosevelt.

The 1953 Coup

The coup, code-named Operation Ajax, was carried out on August 19, 1953, with the involvement of the CIA's Kermit Roosevelt and MI6's Norman Darbyshire. The coup was supported by the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and other Iranian politicians, such as Fazlollah Zahedi and Abdol-Hossein Hajir. The Iranian military played a crucial role in the coup, with key figures like General Batmanghelidj and General Daftary involved. The coup led to the arrest and imprisonment of Mohammad Mosaddegh and the restoration of the Shah of Iran's power, with the support of the United States Department of State and the British Foreign Office, as well as figures like John Foster Dulles and Anthony Eden.

Aftermath

The coup had significant consequences for Iran and its people, with the Shah of Iran's regime becoming increasingly authoritarian and repressive, involving the SAVAK secret police and figures like Hossein Fardoust. The United States and United Kingdom continued to support the Shah of Iran's regime, with the CIA and MI6 providing significant assistance, including the involvement of Richard Helms and Maurice Oldfield. The coup also led to the nationalization of the oil industry being reversed, with British Petroleum and other oil companies regaining control, including Royal Dutch Shell and Standard Oil. The Iranian economy suffered significantly as a result, with the Shah of Iran's regime becoming increasingly dependent on oil exports and the support of the United States and United Kingdom, involving figures like David Rockefeller and Henry Kissinger.

Consequences

The coup had far-reaching consequences for Iran and the Middle East, contributing to the rise of Islamic fundamentalism and the Iranian Revolution of 1979, which involved figures like Ruhollah Khomeini and Ayatollah Taleghani. The coup also damaged the reputation of the United States and United Kingdom in the region, with many viewing their actions as a form of imperialism and a violation of sovereignty, involving the United Nations and figures like Dag Hammarskjöld. The coup also led to a significant increase in anti-American sentiment in Iran and other parts of the Middle East, involving the Palestine Liberation Organization and figures like Yasser Arafat. The Iran-Iraq War and the Gulf War can also be seen as consequences of the coup, with the United States and United Kingdom playing significant roles in these conflicts, involving figures like Saddam Hussein and George H.W. Bush.

Legacy

The legacy of the coup continues to be felt today, with Iran and the United States having a complex and often tense relationship, involving figures like Barack Obama and Hassan Rouhani. The coup is widely regarded as a significant example of regime change and interference in the internal affairs of another country, involving the United Nations Security Council and figures like Ban Ki-moon. The coup has also been the subject of numerous books, films, and documentaries, including the works of Stephen Kinzer and Mark Gasiorowski, as well as the involvement of Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn. The Iran coup remains an important topic of study and debate among historians and scholars, with many continuing to argue about its significance and consequences, involving the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and figures like Joseph Nye and Robert Kagan. Category:20th-century conflicts