How has the CIA been involved with Iran in the 20th Century?

1. How has the CIA been involved with Iran in the 20th Century? Mirra

2. Mohammad Mossadegh was the Prime Minister of Iran at the time the CIA was planning the coup (and illegal overthrowing of a government specifically Iran.) Mohammad Mossadegh

3. Oil! • The idea to overthrow Mohammad came from the British who presented it to Dwight D. Eisenhower who became President of the United States in 1953. • Mohammad had decided that Iran ought to begin profiting from its own vast oil reserves and started taking the steps to nationaliz Iranian oil that was previously controlled by Anglo Iranian Oil Company. Which is now BP.

4. Oil Continued • Britain pointed out that it was a violation of the companies legal rights* which were granted to them in 1901 by the shah to pay off debts to Britain. • *Britain was granted a 60 year contract to search for oil. • Because of this violation Britain launched a world wide Iranian Oil boycott and plunged the country into financial crisis.

5. CIA stands for Central Intelligence Agency. The CIA’s job is to collect and analyze information about foreign governments, corporations and people around the world as to advise public law makers What is the CIA

6. “Operation Ajax” • In 1953 the CIA planned and illegal overthrow of the Iranian government called “Operation Ajax.” • It was engineered by a CIA agent named Kermit Roosevelt (The grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt.) • Kermit used bribery of Iranian Military Officials and CIA engineered street demonstrations to pull of the coup.

7. Operation Ajax Continued • As payment for US help with the coup the Us required that Anglo- Iranian Oil Company combine itself with Royal Dutch Shell and five other major American oil companies. • The CIA organized a Guerrilla force to fend off the possibility of the communist party seizing power when chaos was stirred by Operation Ajax. • The CIA and the guerrilla force created a haven for themselves by reaching an agreement with Qashqai tribal leaders in southern Iran from witch they could operate. • This was only found out after the “Top Secret” files were released.

8. Operation Ajax Continued • Plan was carried out by Donald Wilber CIA agent and author. • Center of the operation getting the shah to fire Prime Minister Mossadegh and replace him with General Fazlollah Zahedi with the help of Cornel Abas Farzanegan. • They were chosen on their likeliness to be anti-Soviet. • The first attempt at the coup failed despite all of the CIA’s detailed planning and the shah was forced to leave the country.

9. Operation Ajax Continued • After exile to Italy the shah returned and the CIA attempted the coup again. • The second attempt was successful. • Zahedi was put in place to succeed Mossadegh. • August 19, 1953 Mossadegh was arrested and was forced from his job. He was a bias trial with his fate already decided and was condemned to death. • The shah completed his sentence of solitary confinement for three years in a military prison and continued the rest of his life in house arrest.

10. Afterwards • The Anglo Iranian Oil Company became BP in 1954 and received forty percent of the new international oil. • BP continued to operate in Iran until the Islamic Revolution. • Due to a large investment program outside Iran the company was able to survive. • They recovered quickly and continue to be one of the worlds front most oil companies.