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Story back in time

What the U.S. Did in Iran – A Story in Timeline

Background (Early 1950s)
• 1951: Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh nationalizes Iran’s oil industry, angering Britain.
• Britain asks the U.S. for help; the U.S. is hesitant at first but changes its stance as Cold War fears grow.
• 1953: President Eisenhower approves a CIA plan to overthrow Mossadegh.

1953 Iranian Coup (Operation Ajax)
• What happened:
The CIA, in cooperation with the British intelligence agency MI6, orchestrated a coup to overthrow Iran’s democratically elected Prime Minister, Mohammad Mossadegh.
• Why:
Mossadegh had nationalized the Iranian oil industry, which had previously been controlled by the British-owned Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (now BP). This angered Britain and worried the U.S., which feared Iran could drift toward communism during the Cold War.
• How it happened:
The CIA used propaganda, paid mobs, and political maneuvering to destabilize Mossadegh’s government. The Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who had fled the country, was brought back to power.
• Aftermath:
The coup restored the Shah’s authoritarian rule, which lasted until the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Many Iranians view the coup as a symbol of Western imperialism and interference, and it has fueled anti-American sentiment in Iran ever since.

Operation Ajax: Timeline & Key Actions

Planning Phase – Spring/Summer 1953
• CIA operative Kermit Roosevelt Jr. (grandson of Teddy Roosevelt) is sent to Tehran to lead the operation.
• The CIA works with MI6 to bribe:
• Iranian military leaders
• Clergy
• Members of Parliament
• Newspapers and journalists to spread anti-Mossadegh propaganda.

August 15, 1953 – First Coup Attempt Fails
• The Shah signs a secret decree to remove Mossadegh and appoint General Zahedi as the new prime minister.
• Mossadegh learns about the plan and has the plotters arrested.
• The Shah flees to Rome.

August 16–18 – CIA Escalates
• Despite failure, Roosevelt continues the operation without official approval.
• CIA pays thugs and mob leaders to stage pro-Shah riots in Tehran.
• Military officers loyal to the CIA create chaos and provoke violence.

August 19, 1953 – Coup Succeeds
• A second wave of CIA-backed protests and military movements overwhelms Mossadegh’s forces.
• Mossadegh is arrested.
• General Fazlollah Zahedi becomes prime minister.
• The Shah returns to power as an authoritarian monarch.

Aftermath
• The Shah rules with U.S. support until he’s overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
• The U.S. and Britain gain access to Iranian oil again.
• Many Iranians never forget the coup, contributing to long-term mistrust toward the U.S.

How the Shah Ruled

1. Autocratic Power
• After the coup, he abolished democracy and centralized power.
• Parliament became weak and symbolic—real decisions came from the Shah.
• Political opposition was suppressed.

2. SAVAK: The Secret Police
• He created SAVAK (Iran’s secret police) with help from the CIA and Mossad.
• SAVAK became infamous for:
• Surveillance
• Torture
• Arrests without trial
• Silencing dissidents and critics

3. Westernization & the White Revolution
• The Shah launched the White Revolution (1963):
• Land reform (took land from some landlords and redistributed it)
• Women’s rights (including women’s suffrage)
• Literacy campaigns and modernization
• These reforms angered both religious conservatives and traditional elites.

4. Wealth & Corruption
• He used oil wealth to modernize Iran, building cities, highways, and industries.
• But wealth was not equally shared—the elite got richer, the poor stayed poor.
• There was rampant corruption, and his lavish lifestyle was criticized.

5. Repression of Religion & Culture
• Tried to minimize the role of Islam in public life.
• Clerics lost power and influence.
• Traditional Iranians felt he was erasing their identity in favor of Western culture.

Impact on Iranians
• Many urban elites and foreigners thrived under his rule.
• But workers, students, intellectuals, and religious groups suffered:

• Lack of political freedom
• Censorship
• Economic inequality
• Discontent kept growing—eventually boiling over into the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The United States has never been formally held accountable or punished for its role in the 1953 coup in Iran. However, there have been some important acknowledgments and partial admissions over the years:

1. U.S. Never Faced Legal or Political Punishment
• No international court case or sanctions were brought against the U.S.
• The coup was seen at the time as part of Cold War strategy to stop Soviet influence, so it was justified internally by U.S. policymakers.

2. Declassified Documents & Admission
• In 2000, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright admitted the coup was a setback for Iran’s political development:
“The United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran’s popular Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh in 1953.”
• In 2013, the CIA officially declassified documents confirming its role, calling the coup an act of “U.S. foreign policy.”

3. No Compensation or Apology
• There has never been a formal apology or reparations paid to Iran.
• Many Iranians view this lack of accountability as part of a longer pattern of foreign interference and betrayal.

4. Long-Term Consequences for the U.S.

While not punished formally, the U.S. has paid a price in reputation and diplomatic relations:
• The coup planted seeds of anti-American sentiment in Iran.
• It played a big role in the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
• In 1979, the U.S. Embassy in Tehran was taken over and American diplomats were held hostage for 444 days.

What do you think? Comment below ⬇️

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