The 1953 Iranian coup d'état, which overthrew Prime Minister
Mohammad Mosaddegh, was orchestrated by the United States CIA (under Operation Ajax) and British intelligence (MI6). The coup aimed to protect Western oil interests after Mosaddegh nationalized the industry and to restore power to Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
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Key details regarding the 1953 coup:
Instigators: The CIA and British intelligence (MI6) planned and funded the operation to remove the democratically elected prime minister.
Operation Codename: The U.S. codename was TPAJAX (Operation Ajax), while the British called it Operation Boot.
Key Figures: CIA agent Kermit Roosevelt Jr. (grandson of Theodore Roosevelt) led the operation, while Iranian General Fazlollah Zahedi was installed as the new prime minister.
Tactics: The coup involved bribing politicians, journalists, and religious leaders, as well as staging violent street protests to destabilize the government.
Outcome: Mosaddegh was arrested, and the Shah’s power was significantly strengthened.
Motivation: The primary drivers were the protection of British oil interests (Anglo-Iranian Oil Company) and fear that Iran would align with the Soviet Union during the Cold War.