1953 History Lesson: The USA/UK first coup in Iran, Operation Ajax

The 1953 coup in Iran, or Operation Ajax, was a pivotal event in the history of Iran and its relationship with the Western world. It was a covert operation orchestrated by the United States and the United Kingdom, which successfully overthrew the democratically elected Prime Minister, Mohammad Mosaddegh and reinstated Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi as Iran’s leader. This operation was driven by the strategic interests of the US and UK in Iran, particularly due to its vast oil reserves and its geopolitical importance in the Cold War era.

Before the coup, Mosaddegh was a popular figure in Iran, known for his nationalist policies and his move to nationalize the country’s oil industry, which was under British control through the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company. This move was seen as a threat to Western interests in the region, leading the CIA and MI6 to plan and execute the coup.

The coup itself was a complex operation involving CIA-funded agents, propaganda, and the harassment of political and religious leaders. It was not without its challenges; the shah, fearful for his throne, vacillated over signing the royal decrees the CIA had prepared to sanction the change of government. Despite this, the coup was successful, and it had far-reaching consequences for Iran and its relationship with the West.

The return of the shah to power marked the beginning of a period of increased Western influence in Iran, but it also sowed the seeds for the Islamic Revolution of 1979, which overthrew the shah and established the current Islamic Republic. Today, the 1953 coup is seen as a significant event that continues to impact Iran's political landscape and its relations with the West.

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