The coup d’état on August 19, 1953, in Iran marked a significant turning point in the country’s political history. This event, often referred to as Operation Ajax in the United States and Operation Boot in the United Kingdom, resulted in the ousting of Iran’s democratically elected Prime Minister, Mohammad Mosaddegh.
In the early 1950s, Prime Minister Mosaddegh had become a symbol of Iranian nationalism and self-determination, primarily due to his campaign for the nationalization of the Iranian oil industry, which had been controlled by foreign companies, mainly the British-owned Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC), now known as BP.
Mosaddegh’s move towards nationalization was seen as a direct threat to Western interests, particularly those of the United Kingdom. The British government vehemently opposed this action and sought assistance from the United States, arguing that Iran was falling under communist influence and was at risk of aligning with the Soviet Union.
Despite initial hesitation, the newly elected President Eisenhower and his administration were persuaded by Cold War fears, thus agreeing to support a secret plan coordinated by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) to overthrow Mosaddegh.
The operation involved a complex mix of political subversion, propaganda, and orchestration of street protests. On August 19, 1953, military officers loyal to the Shah arrested Mosaddegh. With the Prime Minister out of the way, the Shah, who had fled the country briefly during the coup, returned to power.
Although the coup was initially successful in achieving its immediate objective - reinstating the Shah’s power and control - it had far-reaching consequences. The Shah’s increasingly authoritarian rule led to widespread discontent and ultimately laid the groundwork for the Islamic Revolution of 1979, which overthrew the monarchy and established an hardline Islamic Republic in Iran.
The U.S. and U.K.’s involvement in the coup was officially acknowledged decades later. This intervention has since been widely criticized and is seen as a significant factor contributing to anti-Western sentiment in Iran and broader Middle East.
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