Five books on the legacy of the 1953 coup in iran world. He praised cia agent kermit roosevelts diligence in iran, crediting him for the ultimate success of the 1953 coup. The central intelligence agency and the fall of iranian prime minister mohammed mossadeq, august 1953, scott a. Central intelligence agency cia in which mohammed mossadegh, irans democratically. Twentysix years after the mossadeq coup, kermit roosevelt wrote a book about how he and the cia carried out the operation, called countercoup. The plan comprised propaganda, provocations, demonstrations, and bribery, and employed agents of influence, false flag. The 1953 iranian coup detat, known in iran as the 28 mordad coup detat persian. The secret cia history of the iran coup, 1953 november 29, 2000. Dec 14, 2016 the iranian coup, 1953 a detailed account of the overthrow of nationalist iranian prime minister mossadegh by the cia at the behest of the british and american governments, written by stephen kinzer. Sep 01, 20 declassified documents reveal cia role in 1953 iranian coup the cia s overthrow of prime minister mohammad mossadegh was a first for the agency and served as the template for covert operations. Massive protests broke out across iran, leaving almost 300 dead in firefights in the streets of tehran. February 16, 1916 june 8, 2000, was an american intelligence officer who served in the office of strategic services, during and following world war ii. The 1953 coup and the origins of the us iran divide christopher j. In this slim, readable volume, iran scholar abrahamian a history of modern iran delves into the genesis and aftermath of that operation, challenging the idea that mossadeqs intransigence made the putsch inevitable.
Us publishes full papers showing how cia plotted 1953 iran coup documents shed light on american motivations for supporting putsch, which. Iran, 19511954 1989, and an internal central intelligence agency report on the coup, written by one of the participants shortly after the event, which was leaked to the press in 2000. State department finally releases updated history june 15, 2017. The cia and the iranian coup detat in 1953 2574 words. Mohammad mosaddeq and the 1953 coup in iran june 22, 2004. Kinzer is at his journalistic best whendrawing on published sources, declassified documents, interviews, and a bootleg copy of a secret agency history of the operation 9 he reconstructs the daytoday running of tpajax. In august 1953, the central intelligence agency orchestrated the swift overthrow of iran s democratically elected leader and installed muhammad reza shah pahlavi in his place. Us publishes full papers showing how cia plotted 1953 iran coup documents shed light on american motivations for supporting putsch, which included anticommunist stance, british oil interests. Cia confirms role in 1953 iran coup documents provide new details on mosaddeq overthrow and its aftermath national security archive calls for release of remaining classified record national security archive electronic briefing book no. By exploring a broad range of primary and archival sources it makes original contributions to current debates on the ouster of mosaddeq. As discussed in katouzians chapter of this book, the coup ended mosaddeqs tentative steps toward democracy and initiated the reestablishment of arbitrary. Aug 19, 20 mohammad mosaddeq and the 1953 coup in iran by mark j. Mossadegh had sought to reduce the semiabsolute role of the shah granted by the constitution of 1906, thus making iran. Ali rahnemas newest work is a meticulous historical reconstr.
The cia orchestrated the 1953 coup of iran to overthrow mosaddeq. Behind the 1953 coup in iran offers an indepth and detailed examination of the events leading to the 1953 coup in iran. Jul 26, 2017 the 1953 iranian cia coup detat western firms had for decades controlled the regions oil wealth, whether arabianamerican oil company in saudi arabia, or the angloiranian oil company in iran. Gasiorowski and malcolm byrne, syracuse university press, may 1, 2004. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new. Aug 19, 20 a coup in 1953 replaced mossadegh and irans democratic government with a monarchy headed by the shah, mohammad reza pahlavi.
Abrahamian iranian and middle eastern history and politicscity univ. Britain was at that moment facing a grave challenge. Us publishes full papers showing how cia plotted 1953 iran. In 1953, the cia and british intelligence orchestrated a coup detat that toppled the democratically elected government of iran. A newlyreleased 1970s internal cia report admits the agencys involvement in the 1953 coup iranian shah mohammad reza with president kennedy and. Iranians remember well the 1953 ciaorchestrated coup that forcibly removed democraticallyelected prime minster mohammad mossadeq, a man dedicated to few americans today have any idea why iran and america seem forever to be at loggerheads or even why iran. Roosevelt went on to establish american friends of the middle east, and later played a lead role in the central intelligence agency s efforts to overthrow mohammad mosaddegh, the majlisappointed leader of iran. Iranian prime minister mohammad mossadegh was soon overthrown in a coup. Iranian relations hardcover february 5, 20 by ervand abrahamian author in august 1953, the u. Oct 25, 2004 to understand how the 1953 coup came about, you have to consider iran s history, and picture the country on a map. President eisenhower admitted to overthrowing mossadegh in his diary, but not publicly.
Ciaassisted coup overthrows government of iran history. The ciasponsored coup in 1953 that deposed muhammad mossadeq, irans popular prime minister, is often noted as a failure of interventionist foreign policy. Press in coup central intelligence agency officials plotting the 1953 coup in iran hoped to plant articles in american newspapers saying shah mohammad reza pahlavis return resulted from a homegrown revolt against a communistleaning government, internal agency documents show. Aug 19, 20 sixty years ago this monday, on august 19, 1953, modern iranian history took a critical turn when a u. Five books on the legacy of the 1953 coup in iran iran the guardian. Dont just blame washington for the 1953 iran coup that. Cia documents acknowledge its role in irans 1953 coup. The cia report leaked by the new york times in april 2000 was in fact a sanitized history written by the late donald wilber as a handbook for future coups and most cia material remains locked up. Wilber lays out the whole planevery dirty trick and rotten schemewhich so successfully removed mossadeq, by all accounts a good nationalist and. The cia backed overthrow of iran s popular prime minister only succeeded because it supported by thousands of ordinary citizens. This coup initiated a twentyfiveyear period of dictatorship in iran, leaving many iranians resentful of the u. In august 1953, the cia orchestrated the swift overthrow of iran s democratically elected leader and installed muhammad reza shah pahlavi in his place.
The cia finally admitted it orchestrated the iranian coup. Jun 27, 2008 kinzer is at his journalistic best whendrawing on published sources, declassified documents, interviews, and a bootleg copy of a secret agency history of the operation 9 he reconstructs the daytoday running of tpajax. While british intelligence backed away from the debacle, the cia continued its covert operations in iran. In august 1953, the cia orchestrated the swift overthrow of irans democratically elected leader and installed muhammad reza shah pahlavi in his place. Mohammad mosaddeq and the 1953 coup in iran modern. The 1953 coup detat in iran slowed political development and strengthened iran s solidarity in the world. In declassified document, cia acknowledges role in 1953 iran coup cnnpolitics sixty years after the overthrow of iranian prime minister mohammad mossadegh, a declassified cia document. The crucial persian gulf lies on its southern border. The 1953 coup and the origins of the us iran divide. In declassified document, cia acknowledges role in 1953. Central intelligence agency orchestrated the swift overthrow of iran s democratically elected leader and installed muhammad reza shah pahlavi in his place.
The book discusses the 1953 iranian coup detat backed by the u. Aug 19, 20 sixty years after the overthrow of iranian prime minister mohammad mossadegh, a declassified cia document acknowledges the agency was involved in the 1953 coup. Examine and analyze the cia report on the 1953 coup. May 29, 1997 the broad outlines of the iran operation are known. Its well known that the 1953 coup was orchestrated by british. An absorbing account of the cias 1953 coup in iranessential. Donald wilber, one of the cia officers who planned the 1953 coup in iran, wrote an account titled, clandestine service history overthrow of premier mossadeq of iran. Its time to release the real history of the 1953 iran coup. Cia admits role in 1953 iranian coup iran the guardian. New findings on clerical involvement in the 1953 coup in iran. In this slim, readable volume, iran scholar abrahamian a history of modern iran delves into the genesis and aftermath of that operation, challenging the idea that mossadeqs.
A relevant, readable study of the foreignengineered 1953 iranian coup reminds us of the cause that wont go away. An absorbing account of the cia s 1953 coup in iran essential reading for anyone concerned about iran s role in the world today harpers magazine. This extremely important document is one of the last major pieces of the puzzle explaining american and british roles in the august 1953 coup. Abrahamian shows how much more there is to know about the role of the united states and the united kingdom in organizing the 1953 coup against muhammad mossadeq. The new york times recently leaked a cia report on the 1953 americanbritish overthrow of mossadeq, iran s prime minister. Cia confirms role in 1953 iran coup august 19, 20 in the news. The broad outlines of the iran operation are known. Aug 20, 20 the cia has released documents which for the first time formally acknowledge its key role in the 1953 coup which ousted iran s democratically elected prime minister, mohammad mossadeq. Mohammad mosaddeq and the 1953 coup in iranby mark j. Examine the key events surrounding the 1953 coup that ended in the ousting of mosaddeq.
Iranians must take responsibility for their role in the. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book. Feb 05, 20 a relevant, readable study of the foreignengineered 1953 iranian coup reminds us of the cause that wont go away. In declassified document, cia acknowledges role in 1953 iran. He should look at the 1953 cia coup the daily beast june 26, 2017. May 18, 2016 perhaps the cia are the best travelers of all. It billed the report as a secret history of the secret coup, and treated it as an. Based on new documentation and extensive interviews of participants, mohammad mosaddeq and the 1953 coup in iran syracuse university press, 2004 offers an abundance of new information, analysis and insights into the staging of the overthrow as well as the historical, political, and social context which made it possible. The cia has released documents which for the first time formally acknowledge its key role in the 1953 coup which ousted iran s democratically elected prime minister, mohammad mossadeq. Wilber said one goal of the coup was to strengthen the shah. Cia confirms role in 1953 iran coup, new documents released.
Us quietly publishes onceexpunged papers on 1953 iran coup abc news jun 29, 2017. Over the next twentysix years, the united states backed the unpopular, authoritarian shah and his secret police. Discuss and debate the casual relationships between the 1953 coup and the subsequent 1979 iranian revolution. A choice outstanding academic title not only is this book important. The political overthrow came before mysterious events that occured in guatemala, indonesia, brazil, chile the list goes on. The craziest detail about the cias 1953 coup in iran. Mohammad mosaddeq and the 1953 coup in iran on jstor. Newly available cia documentation on the role of the united states and great britain in. The strange odyssey of kermit roosevelts countercoup cia approved exagents memoir of 28 mordad coup after changes rendered it essentially a work of fiction 1979 publication delayed by legal threats from british petroleum, iran hostage crisis shah and cia director george bush okayed memoir idea. Aug 19, 20 the iranianarmenian historian ervand abrahamian, author of the coup. Nov 21, 2019 indeed, in march 1953, weeks before the cia was mandated to plan for the overthrow of mosaddeq, an indigenous coup detat plan, led by zahedi, was in an advanced phase. Analyze the role iran played in ussoviet antagonism during the early cold war period. The 1953 iranian coup detat, known in iran as the 28 mordad coup, was the overthrow of the prime minister of iran mohammad mosaddegh on 19 august 1953, orchestrated by the united kingdom under the nameoperation boot and the united states under the name tpajax project. Yesterday marked the 65th year since the august 19, 1953 cia led coup in iran that toppled the legitimately elected government of prime minister mohammed mossadegh.
Destroyed files on 1953 iran coup the new york times. The most recent known internal history of the coup, zendebad, shah. Declassified documents reveal cia role in 1953 iranian coup. Cia confirms role in 1953 iran coup, new documents. In 1953, he was the cia s asset in tehran when the country was convulsed by a coup. The trump administration wants regime change in iran. Now, for the first time, is the story of the coup detat that placed the dreaded shah of iran in power as told by former cia operative donald wilber, a deep cover cia asset in iran at the time. The cia finally admitted it orchestrated the iranian coup of 1953.
Cia secrecy claims are facially incredible, says lawsuit august 2, 2000. Mar 07, 2018 us quietly publishes onceexpunged papers on 1953 iran coup associated press jun 29, 2017 oblivious to history, trumps turning up the heat on iran. The cia s broken promises on declassification follow the link above for information on the archives lawsuit against the cia to force the declassification of key documents on the agencys role in the european elections of 1948 and the 1953 coup in iran, and to read what five former cia directors and others have said about the agencys declassification policies. Ervand abrahamian is the author of several books, including tortured confessions, khomeinism, iran between two revolutions, and a history of modern iran.
Schwarzkopfs role has been the subject of speculation since the. New documents show us role in 1953 iranian coup wnyc radio jun 30, 2017. According to roosevelt, he slipped across the border under his cia cover as james lochridge on july 19, 1953. Abrahamian argues that the key issue in the crisis was who would control irans oil.
524 699 111 240 185 363 541 751 37 1127 1338 164 16 1333 834 1055 1298 274 604 641 767 89 98 454 1168 464 1394 1230 857 202 1330 727 632 1254 110 347 1497 1241 1177 1340 1229 832 523