1953 Iranian coup d'état
August 15–19, 1953 · Tehran
On 19 August 1953, Iran's prime minister Mohammad Mosaddegh was overthrown in a coup d'état that strengthened the rule of the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The coup was instigated by the United Kingdom (MI6, Operation Boot) and the United States (CIA, Operation Ajax). A key motive was to protect British oil interests after Mosaddegh nationalized Iran's oil industry and the Majlis voted to expel foreign oil representatives.
Key people
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Covert support, United States · Royalists and allies
Winston Churchill
belligerent leader · Royalists and allies
Anthony Eden
belligerent leader · Royalists and allies
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
belligerent leader · Royalists and allies
Mohammad Mosaddegh
belligerent leader · Mosaddegh government
Gholam Hossein Sadighi
belligerent leader · Mosaddegh government
Fazlollah Zahedi
belligerent leader · Royalists and allies
Nematollah Nassiri
belligerent leader · Royalists and allies
Allen Dulles
director of central intelligence · Royalists and allies
Participants
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National Front (Iran)
Mosaddegh government
-
Tudeh Party of Iran
Mosaddegh government
-
Third Force (Iran)
Mosaddegh government
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Iran
Royalists and allies
-
United Kingdom
Royalists and allies
-
United States
Royalists and allies
Related events
1948
1951
1954
1957
1960
1963
1966
1969
1972
1975
1978
1981
1984
1987
1990
1953 Iranian coup d'état