The Shadow Of '53: Unveiling The CIA's Iran Coup

Kenyon Legros 18 Jun 2025

For decades, whispers and suspicions surrounded the 1953 coup in Iran, a pivotal event that reshaped the nation's destiny and cast a long shadow over U.S.-Iranian relations. This was no ordinary political upheaval; it was a meticulously planned covert operation, orchestrated by foreign powers, to depose a democratically elected leader. The central intelligence agency, which has repeatedly pledged for more than five years to make public the files from its secret mission to overthrow the government of Iran in 1953, initially claimed to have destroyed or lost almost all the documents decades ago, leaving a void of official transparency.

Yet, the truth, as it often does, eventually surfaced. On August 19, 2013, the CIA publicly admitted for the first time its involvement in the 1953 coup against Iran's elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh. This belated acknowledgment confirmed what many historians and Iranians had long suspected: that the United States, in collaboration with the United Kingdom, played a central and decisive role in dismantling Iran's nascent democracy. The repercussions of this intervention continue to resonate, making the 1953 coup a critical historical juncture demanding thorough examination.

The Rise of Mossadegh and the Oil Question
Operation Ajax: The Covert Plan Unveiled
- CIA and British Collaboration
- Kermit Roosevelt and the Execution
The Coup Unfolds: A City in Turmoil
Immediate Aftermath and the Shah's Return
The Long Silence and the CIA's Admission
- Document Destruction and Denials
- The 2013 Acknowledgment
The CIA's Official Stance Today
Echoes Through Time: The 1953 Coup and the 1979 Revolution
Lessons From the Shadows

The Rise of Mossadegh and the Oil Question

Mohammad Mossadegh was a charismatic and popular figure who rose to prominence in Iranian politics on a wave of nationalist sentiment. His key policy, and the one that ultimately sealed his fate, was the nationalization of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC) in 1951. This British-owned company held a virtual monopoly over Iran's vast oil reserves, and many Iranians, including Mossadegh, viewed its operations as exploitative, with Iran receiving a disproportionately small share of the profits. Mossadegh's move to reclaim control over Iran's most valuable resource was immensely popular domestically, seen as a bold step towards genuine sovereignty and economic independence. However, this act of nationalization was met with fierce opposition from the United Kingdom, which saw its economic interests severely threatened. Britain, unable to reverse the nationalization through diplomatic or economic pressure, began to lobby the United States for intervention. Initially, the U.S. was hesitant, preferring to mediate the dispute. However, as the Cold War intensified, American officials, working with the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), came to the conclusion that Mossadegh had communist leanings and would move Iran into the Soviet sphere of influence. This fear, whether genuinely held or strategically amplified, provided the crucial pretext for American involvement. The perception that Mossadegh was either too weak to resist Soviet influence or actively sympathetic to communism, despite his strong nationalist credentials, became a powerful motivator for covert action.

Operation Ajax: The Covert Plan Unveiled

The decision to intervene was made at the highest levels of the U.S. and U.K. governments. The operation, codenamed "Operation Ajax" (or "TP-AJAX" by the CIA), was designed to remove Mohammad Mossadegh from power and restore Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi as Iran’s leader. The plan was intricate, involving a combination of propaganda, bribery, and the mobilization of pro-Shah elements within the Iranian military and civilian population. It represented a significant escalation in the Cold War's covert operations, marking one of the first times the CIA overtly engaged in regime change in a sovereign nation.

CIA and British Collaboration

The collaboration between the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS, or MI6) was central to the success of the 1953 coup in Iran. These two intelligence agencies pooled their resources, expertise, and networks to orchestrate the overthrow of Mossadegh. The British, with their long history of involvement in Iran and their deep-seated resentment over oil nationalization, provided invaluable intelligence and local contacts. The CIA, on the other hand, brought significant financial resources and a growing capability for large-scale covert operations. According to a CNN report, declassified documents showed that the CIA, along with the British Secret Intelligence Service, organized large protests against Mossadegh in 1953, which the army eventually joined. This coordinated effort of propaganda and street action was crucial in creating an atmosphere of instability and chaos, weakening Mossadegh's hold on power. CIA personnel, working with the British, planned and financed the 1953 coup in Iran that removed Mohammad Mossadeq as Iran’s prime minister.

Kermit Roosevelt and the Execution

The on-the-ground execution of Operation Ajax was largely overseen by a CIA team led by Kermit Roosevelt, a grandson of the U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt's team was tasked with implementing the complex plan, which involved cultivating relationships with anti-Mossadegh factions, disseminating anti-Mossadegh propaganda, and, crucially, organizing military units for the coup. The operation was far from smooth. The central intelligence agency's secret history of its covert operation to overthrow Iran's government in 1953 offers an inside look at how the agency stumbled into success, despite a series of mishaps that derailed its original plans. Initial attempts to oust Mossadegh failed, leading to a period of intense uncertainty and even the Shah's temporary flight from Iran. However, through persistence, significant financial outlays, and a degree of luck, Roosevelt's team managed to regroup and eventually succeed. The ability of the CIA to adapt and continue its efforts despite setbacks highlights the determination behind the operation.

The Coup Unfolds: A City in Turmoil

The 1953 coup in Iran, a coup d’état in Iran that occurred in August 1953, unfolded dramatically over several days, transforming Tehran into a battleground. The initial phase of the coup, which involved the Shah issuing decrees dismissing Mossadegh, backfired, leading to Mossadegh's popular support surging and the Shah fleeing the country. This seemed like a major defeat for the coup plotters. However, the CIA and its British counterparts quickly regrouped, leveraging their networks and resources. They intensified their propaganda campaign, portraying Mossadegh as a communist sympathizer and a threat to Iran's traditional values and the monarchy. The organized protests, funded and instigated by the CIA, grew larger and more violent. These demonstrations were strategically designed to create a sense of widespread public opposition to Mossadegh's government. Eventually, key elements within the Iranian army, which had been cultivated by the CIA, joined the anti-Mossadegh movement. Street fighting erupted in Tehran, pitting pro-Mossadegh forces against the coup plotters and their military allies. The chaos culminated in a final push against Mossadegh's residence. Some 300 people died during fighting in Tehrān, a stark reminder of the human cost of this covert intervention. The ferocity of the fighting and the loss of life underscore the depth of the political divisions and the determination of those involved in the coup.

Immediate Aftermath and the Shah's Return

With Mossadegh overthrown, the immediate objective of the 1953 coup was achieved. Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, who had temporarily fled Iran, was quickly restored as Iran's leader. His return marked the end of Iran's brief experiment with a democratically elected, nationalist government and ushered in a new era of monarchical rule, heavily supported by the United States. The Shah was an ally of the US, and his restoration ensured that Western oil interests were protected and that Iran remained firmly within the anti-Soviet bloc during the Cold War. To solidify the new regime and offer some stability to General Fazlollah Zahedi, who was installed as the new Prime Minister, the CIA made $5,000,000 available within two days of him taking power. This substantial financial injection highlighted the direct and immediate support the U.S. provided to the post-coup government, signaling its commitment to the new political order. The fall of Iranian Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadeq in August 1953, orchestrated by the central intelligence agency, fundamentally altered Iran's political trajectory, setting the stage for decades of authoritarian rule under the Shah. The coup effectively removed a leader who prioritized Iranian sovereignty over foreign influence, replacing him with one more amenable to Western interests.

The Long Silence and the CIA's Admission

For many years following the 1953 coup, official U.S. and British accounts remained largely silent or evasive about their roles. The nature of covert operations meant that documentation was often classified, destroyed, or deliberately obscured. This lack of transparency fueled speculation and distrust, particularly within Iran, where the memory of the coup lingered as a national grievance.

Document Destruction and Denials

The central intelligence agency, which has repeatedly pledged for more than five years to make public the files from its secret mission to overthrow the government of Iran in 1953, said today that it had destroyed or lost almost all the documents decades ago. This claim, made prior to the 2013 admission, was met with skepticism by historians and researchers who believed that the CIA was deliberately withholding information to protect its image and avoid accountability. The destruction or loss of documents, whether intentional or accidental, made it incredibly difficult for a full and comprehensive understanding of the events to emerge, contributing to a narrative of official denial and secrecy surrounding the 1953 coup. This lack of transparency further cemented the perception of a hidden hand in Iranian affairs.

The 2013 Acknowledgment

Despite the previous denials and claims of lost documents, the truth eventually came to light. Sixty years after the overthrow of Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh, a declassified CIA document acknowledges that the agency was involved in the 1953 coup. On August 19, 2013, the CIA publicly admitted for the first time its involvement in the 1953 coup against Iran's elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh. This admission was a significant turning point, finally providing official confirmation of a historical event that had been a source of contention and conspiracy theories for decades. Declassified documents released that week shed light on the central intelligence agency’s central role in the 1953 coup that brought down Iranian Prime Minister Muhammad Mossadegh, fueling a renewed examination of this pivotal moment. This archive collects declassified CIA documents on Iran, Premier Mossadegh, oil negotiations and the 1953 coup, making available crucial information that had long been hidden. Other American officials have made similar remarks in the past, but the CIA’s acknowledgment in a podcast about the agency’s history comes as much of its official history of the coup was finally being released.

The CIA's Official Stance Today

The public admission of its role in the 1953 coup represented a notable shift in the CIA's approach to its own history. The CIA now officially describes the 1953 coup it backed in Iran that overthrew its prime minister and cemented the rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi as undemocratic. This is a crucial distinction. While the agency had previously been silent or evasive, labeling the operation as "undemocratic" is an acknowledgment of the moral and ethical implications of its actions. It suggests a recognition that intervening in the internal affairs of a sovereign, democratically elected government, even under the guise of Cold War strategy, was a violation of democratic principles. This shift in language and official stance indicates a broader effort by the agency to grapple with its past and present its history more transparently. The acknowledgment that the U.S. helped stage a coup to overthrow Iran’s democratically elected prime minister Mohammad Mossadegh in 1953 is a significant step towards historical accuracy, even if it comes decades after the event. It sets a precedent for how the agency might address other controversial covert operations in its past, fostering a more nuanced understanding of its role in global affairs.

Echoes Through Time: The 1953 Coup and the 1979 Revolution

The 1953 coup in Iran is not merely a historical footnote; its consequences reverberated through Iranian society for decades, ultimately contributing to the conditions that led to the 1979 Islamic Revolution. By removing Mossadegh and restoring the Shah, the U.S. and U.K. effectively stifled Iran's democratic aspirations and cemented an autocratic rule. The Shah, supported by the U.S., became increasingly repressive, relying on his secret police (SAVAK) to suppress dissent. The CIA is said to have collaborated with the last Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, providing training and support that strengthened his regime's control. This suppression of political freedoms, coupled with widespread corruption and the perception of the Shah as a Western puppet, alienated large segments of the Iranian population. The resentment over the 1953 coup festered, becoming a powerful symbol of foreign interference and a rallying cry for those seeking genuine independence and self-determination. In 1953, over two decades before the Islamic Revolution in Iran, the CIA and British spy agency MI6 orchestrated the overthrow of Iran’s democratically elected prime minister Mohammad Mossadegh. Many historians and analysts discuss and debate the casual relationships between the 1953 coup and the subsequent 1979 Iranian Revolution, arguing that the coup created a deep-seated anti-American sentiment and discredited secular, democratic alternatives, leaving the religious opposition as the most viable path for change. The revolution, therefore, can be seen, in part, as a delayed but direct consequence of the 1953 intervention, highlighting the long-term, often unintended, repercussions of covert foreign policy actions.

Lessons From the Shadows

The story of the 1953 coup in Iran serves as a potent reminder of the complex and often unforeseen consequences of foreign intervention in the internal affairs of sovereign nations. It underscores how actions taken for short-term strategic gains can have profound and lasting impacts on international relations and the trajectory of nations. The central intelligence agency has repeatedly intervened in the internal affairs of Iran, from the Mosaddegh coup of 1953 to the present day, demonstrating a pattern of involvement that has shaped the region's history. To examine the key events surrounding the 1953 coup that ended in the ousting of Mosaddegh and to examine and analyze the CIA report on the 1953 coup provides invaluable insights into the mechanics of covert operations and their ethical dilemmas. It forces a critical look at the balance between national interests and democratic principles. For instance, the story of how this Iranian American ballerina is spotlighting social injustices in Iran today can be traced back, in part, to the political landscape shaped by the coup. The legacy of the 1953 coup continues to influence Iranian identity, politics, and its relationship with the West, making it a crucial historical event for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of the modern Middle East. Understanding this history is not just an academic exercise; it's essential for comprehending the roots of current geopolitical tensions and for informing more responsible foreign policy decisions in the future. The 1953 coup in Iran remains a stark illustration of how covert actions, even those deemed successful in the short term, can sow seeds of resentment and instability that blossom into far greater challenges decades later. The belated admission by the CIA, while welcome, serves as a powerful testament to the enduring power of truth and the long shadow cast by historical injustices. *** We hope this deep dive into the 1953 coup has provided you with a clearer understanding of this pivotal historical event. What are your thoughts on the long-term impact of such interventions? Share your insights in the comments below, and don't forget to share this article with others who might be interested in this crucial piece of history. For more historical analyses and geopolitical discussions, explore other articles on our site.

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