Abstract
British interference in Iranian internal politics ushered an atmosphere of chaos into the country, especially when the British utilised the opportunity to elevate their favoured candidate for PM, Qavām. However, his tenure lasted four days and was ended by an uprising on 21 July 1952 (30 Tir 1331), which returned Dr. Mosaddeq to power. Despite this setback, efforts to depict the Tudeh Party in Iran as a Communist tool continued, as per covert directives from British politicians. To maintain their hegemony, British slogans targeted concepts such as social and economic reforms and Iran’s rescue from communist ‘paganism’. Britain enticed local intellectuals and a majority of the clergy to support such fabricated campaigns. The British influence was kept under wraps, as the slightest overt indicator would have invited Dr. Mosaddeq’s scrutiny and fierce opposition.
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Notes
- 1.
Bih Sū-yi Āyandah News, 13 January 1952 (22 Day 1330).
- 2.
Loy Henderson, an American diplomat, served as American ambassador in Iran from 1951 to 1954. Henderson, like other Americans, feared that the Tudeh Party of Iran would take over Dr. Mosaddeq’s government and communists would dominate Iran. Henderson was one of the figures who orchestrated the 1953 coup to overthrow Dr. Mosaddeq.
- 3.
Bānk-i Mardum News, 19 March 1953 (28 of Esfand 1331).
- 4.
Kiyhān News, 17 July 1952 (26 Tir 1331).
- 5.
Ibid., 19 July 1952 (28 Tir 1331).
- 6.
Ibid., 21 July 1952 (30 Tir 1331).
- 7.
Dizh News, 23 July 1952 (1 Mordad 1330).
- 8.
Bākhtar-i Imrūz News, 17 July 1952 (26 Tir 1331).
- 9.
Iṭilā‘āt News, 5 April 1953 (16 Farvardin 1332).
- 10.
Kiyhān News, 13 October 1952 (21 Mehr 1331).
- 11.
Ibid., 7 August 1952 (16 Mordad 1331).
- 12.
Ibid., 19 November 1952 (28 Aban 1331).
- 13.
“Dr. Mosaddeq message to Truman and Churchill”, in Ibid., 27 September 1952 (05 Mehr 1331).
- 14.
“Muẕākirāt-i Majlis (the Majlis Talks)”, in Rūznāmah-i Rasmī-i Kishvar, No. 10, 25 September 1951 (2 Mehr 1330).
- 15.
Bih Sū-yi Āyandah News, 22 May 1951 (31 Ordibehesht 1330).
- 16.
Ibid., 11 June 1951 (20 Khordad 1330).
- 17.
Ibid., 18 June 1951 (27 Khordad 1330); Ibid., 23 July 1951 (31 Tir 1330).
- 18.
Ibid., 24 June 1951 (2 Tir 1330).
- 19.
Ibid., 30 December 1951 (8 Dey 1330); Ibid., 3 January 1952 (12 Dey 1330).
- 20.
“Kermit ‘Kim’ Roosevelt, US president’s grandson who masterminded CIA coup to restore the Shah of Iran”, in The Guardian, 13 June 2000; at http://www.theguardian.com/news/2000/jun/13/guardianobituaries.haroldjackson?INTCMP=SRCH (7 July 2015).
- 21.
Khvāndanīhā Magazine, 21 October 1952 (29 Mehr 1331).
- 22.
“US Admits In Court To Planting False Nuclear Evidence In Iran”, in: Your News Wire, 19 January 2015, at: http://yournewswire.com/us-admits-to-planting-false-nuclear-evidence-in-iran/ (21 January 2015).
- 23.
Kiyhān News, 7 September 1952 (16 Shahrivar 1331).
- 24.
“Dr. Mosaddeq message to Truman and Churchill”, in Ibid., 27 September 1952 (5 Mehr 1331).
- 25.
“The news about meeting between Camille Gutt and Dr. Mosaddeq in Tehran”, in: Iṭilā‘āt News, 2 October 1952 (10 Mehr 1331).
- 26.
“Kermit ‘Kim’ Roosevelt, US president’s grandson who masterminded CIA coup to restore the Shah of Iran”, in The Guardian, 13 June 2000; at http://www.theguardian.com/news/2000/jun/13/guardianobituaries.haroldjackson?INTCMP=SRCH (7 July 2015).
- 27.
Bākhtar-i Imrūz News, 27 January 1953 (7 Bahman 1331).
- 28.
“Secret CIA study reveals British role in Iran coup, London aided shah in 1953 to safeguard west’s oil interests”, in The Guardian, 17 April 2000; at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2000/apr/17/iran? (7 July 2015).
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Other Literature
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Ebrahimi, M. (2016). British Interference in Iranian Internal Politics. In: The British Role in Iranian Domestic Politics (1951-1953). SpringerBriefs in Environment, Security, Development and Peace, vol 5. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31098-5_3
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