The British Role in Iranian Domestic Politics (1951-1953) (SpringerBriefs in Environment, Security, Development and Peace, 5)

How and why was Iran's democratically elected government overthrown in 1953? Most studies refer to a 'CIA-led' operation. Based on British and Iranian sources, Dr. Ebrahimi, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, examines how British foreign and domestic agents interfered in Iran's international affairs between Iran's nationalisation of oil in 1951 and the overthrow of Prime Minister Mosaddeq in 1953. This study analyses how British agents used the Shah, the ancient Persian Durbar, Majlis deputies, Islamic clergy and Iranian army officers in the overthrow of the first democratically elected Prime Minister. The book highlights how Britain used the 'Communist threat' as a pretext to protect its oil interests and persuaded the Americans to execute the coup. This close interaction between British colonial interests, American Cold War goals and Iranian politics defeated the democratic aspirations of Iran's people.;1. British interest in Iran's oil: prelude to conflict -- 2. British retaliation after the nationalisation of Iran's oil -- 3. British interference in Iranian international politics -- 4. Diverse strategies solidify amid anti-Mosaddeq sentiment -- 5. Decisive crackdown and concluding remarks. Acknowledgements 8 Contents 10 Abbreviations 12 1 British Interest in Iran’s Oil: Prelude to Conflict 13 Abstract 13 1.1 The Iranian Economy 13 1.2 Preliminary Assessments of Unfair Agreements 15 1.3 Iran Objects: Revision of the Oil Agreement 17 1.4 The Nationalisation of Oil 20 1.5 Organisation of the Book 24 References 25 Other Literature 26 2 British Retaliation After the Nationalisation of Iran’s Oil 27 Abstract 27 2.1 Apparent Calm: Negotiations 27 2.1.1 Collapse of Discussions with the World Bank 34 2.2 Violence and Military Threat 35 2.3 Sending Spies to Iran 37 2.4 Legal Action 39 2.5 British Propaganda and Consultation with the Americans 40 2.6 The Oil Boycott 42 2.7 Conclusion 44 References 45 Other Literature 45 3 British Interference in Iranian Internal Politics 47 Abstract 47 3.1 Tehran in Protest: The Prelude 47 3.2 The British Action: Their Candidates for PM 50 3.2.1 The Shah’s Opinion 53 3.3 Struggle for Power 54 3.3.1 Resignation of Dr. Mosaddeq 56 3.3.2 Qavām’s Four Days as PM and the Uprising of 21 July 1952 (30 Tir 1331) 57 3.3.3 The Reaction of the National Front and the Shah to Qavām as PM 58 3.3.4 Impact of the Uprising (21 July 1952/30 Tir 1331) 60 3.4 Demonising Communism 62 3.5 The Truman–Churchill Proposal: Dr. Mosaddeq’s Assessment 66 3.6 The Plan to Overthrow Dr. Mosaddeq’s Government 68 3.7 Conclusion 69 References 70 Other Literature 71 4 Diverse Strategies Solidify Amid Anti-Mosaddeq Sentiment 72 Abstract 72 4.1 The Durbar: Arouse the Shah 72 4.2 The Presence of the Clergy 74 4.3 The Shake-up of the Majlis 76 4.4 The Second Extension of Dr. Mosaddeq’s Authority: Increasing Opponents 79 4.5 Further Internal Political Disturbances and the British Plot 82 4.5.1 The Riot of Bakhtiyārī in February 1953 82 4.5.2 The Infamous Plot to Murder Afshār Ṭūs in April 1953 84 4.5.3 Selecting a PM for the Post-Coup Government 86 4.6 The Proposed Referendum and the Proposed Departure of the Shah 87 4.6.1 The British Plot to Assassinate Dr. Mosaddeq: Events of 28 February 1953 (9 Esfand 1331) 88 4.6.2 The Aftermath 91 4.7 Conclusion 94 References 94 Other Literature 95 5 Decisive Crackdown and Concluding Remarks 97 Abstract 97 5.1 The Final Blow to Dr. Mosaddeq’s Government 97 5.2 Dr. Mosaddeq’s Pre-emptive Measures 103 5.3 Understanding the Past, Looking to the Future 107 References 110 Other Literature 110 Appendix: Scope, Data, Methodology and Limitations 111 Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) 113 About the Author 116 About the Book 117 Based on British and Iranian sources, this book investigates the background and goals of the coup in Iran, examining how British foreign and domestic agents interfered with Iran’s internal affairs between the nationalization of Iran’s oil in 1951 until its failure in 1953 with the overthrow of Prime Minister Mossadegh. How and why was Iran’s democratically elected government ousted in 1953? Most studies refer to a ‘CIA-led’ operation. This study analyses how British agents used the Shah, the ancient Persian Durbar, Majlis deputies, Islamic clergy, and Iranian military officers in the overthrow of the first democratically elected Prime Minister, and highlights how Britain used the ‘Communist menace’ as a pretext for protecting its oil interests and persuaded the Americans to orchestrate the coup. This close interaction between British colonial interests, American Cold War goals and Iranian politics ultimately defeated the democratic aspirations of Iran’s people.