Iranian coup d'etat (1953) facts for kids
In 1953, something big happened in Iran. It was called a coup d'état. A coup is when a group tries to take over a government by force. This coup aimed to remove Iran's leader, Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadeq. It was also known as Operation Ajax. The plan was made by the CIA from the United States. Britain's MI6 also helped. This happened in August 1953.
Contents
Why the Coup Happened
Oil and Power in Iran
In 1951, Mohammad Mossadeq was a very popular leader in Iran. He was the head of Iran's Oil Committee. At this time, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was also in power. The Shah was like a king.
The Majlis, which is Iran's Parliament, made an important decision. They voted for a law to nationalize the oil company. To nationalize means the government takes control of a company. Before this, a British company called the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company owned Iran's oil.
Mossadeq Becomes Prime Minister
Mossadeq was chosen as Prime Minister of Iran in April 1951. His first big action was to put the oil nationalization plan into action. This meant Iran would now control its own oil.
Foreign Involvement
The British government was not happy about this. They had a plan to remove Mossadeq from power. They asked the United States CIA for help. The CIA agreed to join the plan.
The coup was planned by a person named Monty Woodhouse. It was carried out by MI6 and the CIA. A general named Fazlollah Zahedi led the actions on the ground.
What Happened After
Mossadeq is Replaced
After the coup, Fazlollah Zahedi replaced Mossadeq. But Mossadeq did not want to step down. A new government was put in place. It was like a military dictatorship.
The Shah Returns to Power
Shah Pahlavi was put back in charge of Iran. He had been in power before, but Mossadeq had made him step aside. Many people were angry that the Shah was back. They felt he did not treat the people well.
The Iranian Revolution
The anger among the people grew over time. This eventually led to the Iranian Revolution in 1979. This revolution changed Iran's government completely. It brought Ayatollah Khomeini to power.
