CIA Admits It Was Behind Iran's Coup

[iranigirl2]

Sixty years ago this Monday, on August 19, 1953, modern Iranian history took a critical turn when a U.S.- and British-backed coup overthrew the country's prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. The event's reverberations have haunted its orchestrators over the years, contributing to the anti-Americanism that accompanied the Shah's ouster in early 1979, and even influencing the Iranians who seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran later that year.


But it has taken almost six decades for the U.S. intelligence community to acknowledge openly that it was behind the controversial overthrow. Published here today -- and on the website of the National Security Archive, which obtained the document through the Freedom of Information Act -- is a brief excerpt from The Battle for Iran, an internal report prepared in the mid-1970s by an in-house CIA historian.

The document was first released in 1981, but with most of it excised, including all of Section III, entitled "Covert Action" -- the part that describes the coup itself. Most of that section remains under wraps, but this new version does formally make public, for the first time that we know of, the fact of the agency's participation: "[T]he military coup that overthrew Mosadeq and his National Front cabinet was carried out under CIA direction as an act of U.S. foreign policy," the history reads. The risk of leaving Iran "open to Soviet aggression," it adds, "compelled the United States ... in planning and executing TPAJAX."

TPAJAX was the CIA's codename for the overthrow plot, which relied on local collaborators at every stage. It consisted of several steps: using propaganda to undermine Mossadegh politically, inducing the Shah to cooperate, bribing members of parliament, organizing the security forces, and ginning up public demonstrations. The initial attempt actually failed, but after a mad scramble the coup forces pulled themselves together and came through on their second try, on August 19.


Why the CIA finally chose to own up to its role is as unclear as some of the reasons it has held onto this information for so long. CIA and British operatives have written books and articles on the operation -- notably Kermit Roosevelt, the agency's chief overseer of the coup. Scholars have produced many more books, including several just in the past few years. Moreover, two American presidents (Clinton and Obama) have publicly acknowledged the U.S. role in the coup.

But U.S. government classifiers, especially in the intelligence community, often have a different view on these matters. They worry that disclosing "sources and methods" -- even for operations decades in the past and involving age-old methods like propaganda -- might help an adversary. They insist there is a world of difference between what becomes publicly known unofficially (through leaks, for example) and what the government formally acknowledges. (Somehow those presidential admissions of American involvement seem not to have counted.)



Finally, there is the priority of maintaining good relations with allies, particularly in the intelligence arena. British records from several years ago (see the National Security Archive's posting today) show that the Foreign Office (and presumably MI6, which helped plan and carry out the coup) has been anxious not to let slip any official word about its involvement. To outside observers, this subterfuge borders on the ludicrous given that Iranians have assumed London's role for so long. Yet, by most indicators, the U.S. intelligence community has gone along, regardless of the consequences for Americans' understanding of their own history.

The fact that the CIA has now chosen to shift direction, at least this far, is something to be welcomed. One can only hope it leads to similar decisions to open up the historical record on topics that still matter today.

CIA Admits It Was Behind Iran's Coup - By Malcolm Byrne | Foreign Policy

 

[BDforever]

it is nothing new, CIA is involved in such activities for long time.

 

[Srinivas]

Iranian Islamic revolution is a coup, no doubt about it. The islamists in Iran are a minority and they do not have majority support at the time of Iranian revolution.

 

[iranigirl2]

it is nothing new, CIA is involved in such activities for long time.

I read in a book, that CIA and MI6 used BBC Persian to spread false information to the public.

One of the tricks they used was to spread news that Mossadegh was an atheist, and that made people really mad.

It was so ridiculous that several Iranian broadcasters quite their job at the BBC Persian.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Whatever the CIA did or tried to do, it was Iranians, no one else, who actually disposed Mossadegh. Only a handful of American or British agents were present in the country. Only the Iranians, military and otherwise, had the actual power to carry out the coup against Mossadegh. For Iranians to lay this action at the feet of the CIA is to acknowledge the total depravity of their own countryman. The USA did not dispose Mossadegh. Only Iranians on the ground had the capability to do that. Grow up. Iranians are responsible for their own history. To blame the USA is to make the Iranian State a baby.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

Here is something I read that is interesting:

Nuclear program of Iran - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The nuclear program of Iran was launched in the 1950s with the help of the United States as part of the Atoms for Peace program.

The participation of the United States and Western European governments in Iran's nuclear program continued until the 1979 Iranian Revolution that toppled the Shah of Iran.

So in fact America and the West were active participants in the Iranian nuclear program.

Now they are the ones complaining about it the most?

 

[BDforever]

Here is something I read that is interesting:

Nuclear program of Iran - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

So in fact America and the West were active participants in the Iranian nuclear program.

Now they are the ones complaining about it the most?

yes because that was before Iranian revolution in 1979, even isreal itself offered Nuke program to Iran along with USA. But the revolution took place, they became worried thinking that those might have fallen to wrong hand.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

yes because that was before Iranian revolution in 1979, even isreal itself offered Nuke program to Iran along with USA. But the revolution took place, they became worried thinking that those might have fallen to wrong hand.

LOL, because the Shah was pro-American and pro-West, that's why they didn't mind.

So Iran today should pretend to be pro-West in order to get them off their backs, then develop nuclear weapons quickly in secret.

The most important thing is protecting their own national interests. America backs off immediately when any country develops nuclear weapons, look at North Korea. Or when Russia invaded Georgia. Just build them fast and quietly.

 

[Kompromat]

Whatever the CIA did or tried to do, it was Iranians, no one else, who actually disposed Mossadegh. Only a handful of American or British agents were present in the country. Only the Iranians, military and otherwise, had the actual power to carry out the coup against Mossadegh. For Iranians to lay this action at the feet of the CIA is to acknowledge the total depravity of their own countryman. The USA did not dispose Mossadegh. Only Iranians on the ground had the capability to do that. Grow up. Iranians are responsible for their own history. To blame the USA is to make the Iranian State a baby.

Dear Sir.

In the beginning it was a 'few' Europeans who took the land from the Indians in America. In the beginning, it was a 'few' Europeans who took the land from Australian aboriginals, In the beginning, it was a 'few' Europeans who took the land from Mauris in Newzland. It was a 'few' Europeans who started the Apartheid in S.Africa.

Not talking responsibility for subverting other nations by the means materials and criminal activity on foreign soil for your own good as well as meddling with their way of life to serve your interests is every bit hypocritical.

 

[anonymus]

Whatever the CIA did or tried to do, it was Iranians, no one else, who actually disposed Mossadegh. Only a handful of American or British agents were present in the country. Only the Iranians, military and otherwise, had the actual power to carry out the coup against Mossadegh. For Iranians to lay this action at the feet of the CIA is to acknowledge the total depravity of their own countryman. The USA did not dispose Mossadegh. Only Iranians on the ground had the capability to do that. Grow up. Iranians are responsible for their own history. To blame the USA is to make the Iranian State a baby.

Only Problem with this assumption is that

" A man with Gun is more powerful than 1000's without a Gun"

 

[iranigirl2]

LOL, because the Shah was pro-American and pro-West, that's why they didn't mind.

So Iran today should pretend to be pro-West in order to get them off their backs, then develop nuclear weapons quickly in secret.

The most important thing is protecting their own national interests. America backs off immediately when any country develops nuclear weapons, look at North Korea. Or when Russia invaded Georgia. Just build them fast and quietly.

Exactly this is why I think Iran needs a nationalist government, not an Islamist one.

It needs a nationalist government to keep all foreign influence out of Iran, not just America, but Also UK, Russia, and maybe even China.



But the problem is: even if we elect an Nationalist government, one without Islamic views, I'm 100% sure the west will find another excuse to keep Iran under pressure.


This is a quote from my favorite Iranian blogger Hossein Derakhshan.


But the events of the past two years – most notably with what's happening in Iraq, along with last year's presidential election and other unfortunate events in the region – has left no doubt in my mind, and in the minds of lots of secular Iranians, that the U.S. is behaving more and more like a reckless imperial force in search of new sources of energy and new markets to expand to economically. Therefore, even if Iran becomes the most peaceful, secular and progressive, yet still independent state on the planet, the U.S. would be unable to tolerate it. The U.S. would seek new excuses to topple Iran's government and install their favorite instead. For this reason, I believe Iran needs to produce nuclear weapons as a defensive mechanism, to deter the U.S. today and the ever-expanding and equally energy-hungry China tomorrow. But making nuclear weapons even for totally defensive purposes is not easy now. Iran could only get away with it by stopping enrichment now, voluntarily normalizing relations with Israel and the U.S., and withdrawing from the NPT. Then it could start making the weapons – secretly or maybe even publicly. It's only then that the world would tolerate a nuclear Iran.

 

[Pakistanisage]

It is going to be another 60 years before sources reveal CIA's involvement in Pakistan's De-stability campaign run by CIA currently.

On topic, @iranigirl2 Please explain why in your opinion has Iran continued to remain part of NPT ?

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

Iran needs a nationalist government to keep all foreign influence out of Iran, not just America, but Also UK, Russia, and maybe even China.

Good, I agree.

I am a Nationalist too. Countries should look after their own interest, first and foremost. I have always believed this.

Which means not allowing powerful countries to have influence within your own borders. Doesn't matter if it is USA, Russia or even my own country China.

But the problem is: even if we elect an Nationalist government, one without Islamic views, I'm 100% sure the west will find another excuse to keep Iran under pressure.

The West puts pressure on Iran because Iran is strong, and might challenge their own interests.

Look at China. Back in the 1970's we were fully Communist, but America still welcomed us with open arms. Because we were weak, and useful as a counter-weight to the Soviet Union.

Today we are a market economy, and stronger, yet America hates us! I wonder why? It's all to do with relative power.

 

[Panther 57]

"Exactly this is why I think Iran needs a nationalist government, not an Islamist one.

It needs a nationalist government to keep all foreign influence out of Iran, not just America, but Also UK, Russia, and maybe even China."

Comparing Nationalism with Islam is bit unfair. Islam is a code of conduct and Nationalism is your love for the geographical boundaries. Those who advocate Islamic nationalism are wrong. Islam has itself mentioned that people have been divided into tribes, so that they can develop their identity (and words to that effect). Nationalism can very well be nurtured within any religion.

As far as meddling into affairs of other countries is concerned, most of the time it is non-nationalistic citizens of a country who sell their loyalties to usurpers.

 

[Panther 57]

In fact not only in Pakistan but CIA will be found having its hands dirty in most of the countries, even their western allies. So far what they have been doing and which has been exposed, indicates that their actions and interference has been on false assumption, fabricated evidence and purely materialistic gains for few individuals.