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The Real Story of the 1953 Iranian Coup
(Wall Street Journal) Ray Takeyh - 70 years ago, a coup toppled Iran's Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadeq. Mossadeq was a Persian aristocrat who objected to Britain's control of Iran's oil. Appointed to his post by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, he had led the nationalization charge to reclaim Iran's national asset. America became involved with Iran at Mossadeq's instigation. Once negotiations over oil with Britain deadlocked, Mossadeq implored President Truman to mediate the dispute. From 1951 until the eventual coup, a succession of American diplomats came up with numerous plans, all of which Mossadeq rejected. To pressure him, Britain imposed an embargo on Iranian oil and Iran's economy cratered. Mossadeq became more despotic. He rigged elections, disbanded Parliament, usurped the powers of the monarch, and showed little respect for the constitution, alarming Persian power brokers. By 1953 Iranians were asking the U.S. Embassy for support. Eisenhower seemed sympathetic because of Mossadeq's increasing reliance on the Tudeh Communist Party. The CIA didn't create the opposition to Mossadeq. Iranian Lt.-Gen. Fazlollah Zahedi had already organized the military to overthrow the prime minister, mullahs were organizing demonstrations against Mossadeq, and merchants were closing their bazaars in protest. America's most essential contribution to Mossadeq's removal was to get the young and hesitant shah to dismiss his prime minister. The writer, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, was a senior advisor on Iran at the U.S. State Department.