Operation Ajax (1953)

Operation Ajax, officially known as TPAJAX Project, was a covert operation by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States, in collaboration with the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS, also known as MI6), to overthrow the democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran, Mohammad Mossadegh, in August 1953. This operation is considered one of the most significant and controversial interventions in the history of U.S. foreign policy.

Background
Oil Nationalization:
The Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC), primarily owned by the British government, controlled Iran’s oil industry. The AIOC was highly profitable for Britain but paid minimal royalties to Iran.
In 1951, Mohammad Mossadegh, a nationalist and leader of the National Front party, was elected Prime Minister of Iran. Mossadegh pushed for the nationalization of the Iranian oil industry, which was overwhelmingly approved by the Iranian parliament.

British Reaction:
The nationalization led to a major crisis. Britain, heavily dependent on Iranian oil, responded with an embargo on Iranian oil and sought to undermine Mossadegh’s government.
When legal and diplomatic efforts to reverse the nationalization failed, Britain turned to covert means and sought the assistance of the United States.

Cold War Context:
The early 1950s were marked by intense Cold War tensions. The United States was concerned about the spread of communism and Soviet influence. Although Mossadegh was not a communist, his nationalization policies and the support he received from the Tudeh Party (Iran’s communist party) alarmed U.S. policymakers.

Planning and Execution
Initiation of Operation Ajax:
In 1953, the newly elected U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower and his Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles, agreed to support the British plan for a coup.
The operation was planned by Kermit Roosevelt Jr., a senior CIA officer and the grandson of former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. The operation was named TPAJAX Project, with the British operation codenamed Boot.

Preparation:
The CIA and MI6 orchestrated a complex plan involving propaganda, political manipulation, and bribery. They sought to create a narrative that portrayed Mossadegh as a threat to stability and a puppet of the Soviet Union.
Key figures in the Iranian military, political, and religious sectors were approached and bribed to support the coup. The CIA and MI6 also funded anti-Mossadegh protests and published anti-Mossadegh propaganda.

Execution:
The coup was initially set for mid-August 1953 but faced several setbacks. On August 15, Mossadegh was warned of the plan and managed to thwart the initial attempt by arresting key conspirators.
Despite this failure, Kermit Roosevelt Jr. persisted. A renewed effort on August 19, 1953, mobilized pro-Shah military units, street mobs, and political factions to depose Mossadegh.
Mossadegh’s residence was bombarded, and he was arrested. The Shah, who had initially fled the country, was reinstated as the ruler of Iran.

Aftermath and Consequences
Restoration of the Shah:
After the coup, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi returned to Iran with full support from the U.S. and Britain. The Shah assumed greater autocratic powers and suppressed political dissent.
The Shah’s regime reversed the nationalization, and oil production was resumed under a new consortium agreement that included American and British companies.

Impact on Iran:
The coup led to the establishment of a pro-Western government in Iran, but it also engendered deep resentment and anti-American sentiment among many Iranians.
The Shah’s regime, characterized by political repression and human rights abuses, eventually led to widespread discontent, culminating in the Iranian Revolution of 1979.

Long-term U.S.-Iran Relations:
The overthrow of Mossadegh is viewed by many Iranians as a symbol of Western interference in Iran’s sovereignty. The legacy of Operation Ajax has had a lasting impact on U.S.-Iran relations, contributing to mutual distrust and animosity.
The 1979 Iranian Revolution, which established the Islamic Republic under Ayatollah Khomeini, was partly fueled by the historical grievances related to the 1953 coup.

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