OPERATION: AJAX

Operation Ajax: The CIA's Infamous Coup in Iran

Operation Ajax was a covert CIA-backed coup led by the United States and Britain in 1953 to overthrow the democratically elected government of Iran and reinstate the autocratic rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The coup was initially successful in overthrowing Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh and restoring the Shah to power, but it ultimately backfired and led to decades of anti-American sentiment in Iran and the region.

The roots of Operation Ajax date back to the early 20th century. After World War I, the oil-rich nation of Iran was in a state of political turmoil. In 1951, Prime Minister Mosaddegh was elected to office with overwhelming public support. He was determined to take control of Iran’s oil resources from foreign companies, particularly those from Britain. In response, Britain imposed an economic blockade on the country and lobbied the United States to intervene. The CIA, in cooperation with British intelligence, began planning Operation Ajax in 1952. The goal was to overthrow the Iranian government and restore the Shah to power.

To do this, the CIA hired a team of Iranian exiles and agents to stir up anti-Mosaddegh sentiment in the country. They spread false rumors of an impending communist takeover and of Mosaddegh’s ties to the Soviet Union. They also bribed Iranian military officials and politicians to support the coup. On August 19, 1953, the coup began. Hundreds of military officers and protesters took to the streets and attacked Mosaddegh’s supporters. The Shah’s forces took control of the government and arrested Mosaddegh.

The Shah was then installed as the absolute ruler of Iran. The coup was initially successful, but soon it backfired. Despite the CIA’s efforts, the Iranian people saw the coup for what it was: an undemocratic power grab by a foreign power. Anti-American sentiment in the country skyrocketed and riots broke out in the streets. The Shah was eventually forced to flee the country in 1979 and the Islamic Revolution installed a new government that remains hostile to the United States to this day.

The legacy of Operation Ajax is still felt in the region today. The coup was seen as a blatant example of Western interference in the Middle East and it helped fuel anti-American sentiment in the region. It also caused a rift between the United States and Iran that has yet to be fully healed. Operation Ajax stands as a stark reminder of the dangers of covert intervention in the Middle East and the need for the United States to respect the sovereignty of other nations. It is a lesson that the United States and other Western countries must continue to learn if they are to prevent similar disasters in the future.