Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

The British Role in Iranian Domestic Politics (1951-1953) pp 61–85Cite as

Diverse Strategies Solidify Amid Anti-Mosaddeq Sentiment

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

  • 399 Accesses

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Environment, Security, Development and Peace ((BRIEFSSECUR,volume 5))

Abstract

The British learned from the uprising of 21 July 1952 (30 Tir 1331) that they needed greater control over Iran’s army and an intensification of divergence and antagonism among Dr. Mosaddeq’s supporters, which would work in favour of his political opponents. If the Iranian people had held to their alliances of 21 July 1952, foreign impositions could have been dismissed. However, conspirators observed the strength of the solidarity among those associated with Dr. Mosaddeq and immediately set about weakening it. The impact of such subversive measures was felt by different groups including the Durbar, the clergymen and the Majlis. This chapter shows how Dr. Mosaddeq’s government responded and then projected its foreign policy, particularly during and after devastating conflicts and internal political tensions inspired by the Anglo-American alliance. The British strategy consciously focused on creating a chaotic social and political milieu designed to implement the collapse of Dr. Mosaddeq’s government. The coup was meticulously planned and finally accomplished on 28 February 1953 (9 Esfand 1331).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   49.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   64.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Iṭilā‘āt News, 27 July 1952 (5 Mordad 1331).

  2. 2.

    “Interview with Ḥusayn Makkī”, in Tārīhk-i Muʼāṣir-i Īrān Magazine (Contemporary History of Iran), First year, No. 1, 1997 (Spring 1376), 178–216.

  3. 3.

    Khabar News, 18 November 1952 (27 of Aban 1331).

  4. 4.

    Mard-i Āsiyā News, 5 December 1952 (14 Azar 1331).

  5. 5.

    Kiyhān News, 16 October 1952 (24 Mehr 13331).

  6. 6.

    Ibid., 11–12 November 1952 (20–21 Aban 1331).

  7. 7.

    Bākhtar-i Imrūz News, 31 January 1953 (11 Bahman 1331).

  8. 8.

    After the event of 21 July 1952, the National Front deputies (pro-Mosaddeq deputies) gathered in the Majlis and established a faction called National Movement faction (National Movement Group) that remained loyal in supporting leadership of Dr. Mosaddeq.

  9. 9.

    On 30 March 1953 (10 Farvardin 1332), an eight-member committee of Majlis deputies was selected to solve the dispute between Dr. Mosaddeq, Kashani and the Shah. The committee comprised Dr. Mu‘aẓẓamī, Dr. Sanjābī, Ḥusayn Makkī, Dr. Muẓaffar Baqāʼī, Sayyid Abū al-Ḥasan Ḥāʼirīʹzādah, Qāʼimʹmaqām al-mulk Rafī‘, Ganjihʹī and Majdʹzādah.

  10. 10.

    Kiyhān News, 18 January 1953 (28 Dey 1331).

  11. 11.

    Bākhtar-i Imrūz News, 23 February 1953 (4 Esfand 1331).

  12. 12.

    Ibid., 11 February 1953 (22 Bahman 1331).

  13. 13.

    Ibid., 25 February 1953 (6 Esfand 1331).

  14. 14.

    Ibid., 23 February 1953 (4 Esfand 1331).

  15. 15.

    Referendum is a legislative act or measure referred to a popular vote of the whole electorate for final approval or rejection.

  16. 16.

    “The report of private session of the Majlis” in Kiyhān News, 1 March 1953 (10 Esfand 1331).

  17. 17.

    Ibid., 28 February 1953 (9 Esfand 1331).

  18. 18.

    Iṭilā‘āt News, 1 August 1953 (10 Mordad 1332).

  19. 19.

    “The negotiations of private session of the Majlis” in Bākhtar-i Imrūz Newspaper, 28 February 1953 (9 Esfand 1331).

  20. 20.

    Kiyhān News, 1 March 1953 (10 Esfand 1331).

  21. 21.

    Ibid., 2 March 1953 (11 Esfand 1331).

  22. 22.

    Bākhtar-i Imrūz News, 1 March 1953 (10 Esfand 1331).

  23. 23.

    Iṭilā‘āt News 28, 30 March 1953 (8, 10 Fravardin 1332).

  24. 24.

    Ibid., 30 March 1953 (10 Fravardin 1332).

References

  • Akbarī, Sayyid Ḥāmid, 2009/1388: Muṣaddiq va ‘ashāyir, Qashqāyī, Buyiraḥmad, Mamassanī va kuhgīlūyah (Mosaddeq and Tribes, Qashqāyī, Buyiraḥmad, Mamassanī va kuhgīlūyah), 1st Edn (Shiraz: Intishārāt-i Navid).

    Google Scholar 

  • Azimi, Fakhreddin, 1989: Iran, The Crisis of Democracy 1941–1953 (London: I B Tauris and Co. Ltd).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dihnavī, Muḥammad, 1983/1362: Maktūbāt va Nivishtahʹhā-yi Āyyat al-lāh Kāshānī (The Writings of Ayatollah Kashani), Vol. 3 (Tehran: Intishārāt-i Chāpakhsh).

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasiorowski, Mark J., 2004: “The 1953 Coup d’État Against Mosaddeq”, in Gasiorowski, Mark J.; Byrne, Malcolm (Eds.): Mohammad Mosaddeq and the 1953 Coup in Iran (Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press): 227–260.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malikī, Khalīl, 1978/1357: Khāṭirāt-i Sīyāsī-i Khalīl Malikī (Political Memoirs of Khalīl Malikī) (Tehran: Intishārāt-i Ravāq).

    Google Scholar 

  • Muḥammadī, Muḥammad Ja‘far, 2006/1385: Rāz-i Pīrūzī-i Kūditā-yi Bīstuʹhasht-i Murdād (Secret Victory of the 19 August Coup) (Tehran: Nashr-i khtarān).

    Google Scholar 

  • Nahavandi, Houshang, 2009: Si Rūydād va Si Dulatmard, Nigāhi bih Yik Daha az Tārīhk-i Muʼāṣir-i Īrān (Three Events and Three Statesmen, A New Consideration of a Decade of Contemporary Iranian History) (USA: Ketab Corp).

    Google Scholar 

Other Literature

  • Interview with Mohammad Ali Amouei, former Secretary-general of Central Committee of Tudeh Party of Iran, Tehran, Saturday, 29 January 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, Kew, London, EP1015/30, 8 January 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/32, 7 February 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/32(A), 6 February 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/33, 7 February 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/36, 11 February 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/37, 12 February 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/37(A), 20 February 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/37(B), 26 February 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/38, 22 January 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/39(E), 4 February 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/41, 22 February 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/42, 19 February 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/42(E), 18 February 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/43, 16 February 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/43, 18 February 1953, Confidential by A K Rothnie.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/43, 20 February 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/43, 23 February 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/43, 28 February 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/43(B), 15 February 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/43(F), 19 February 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/43, 9 March 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/46, 27 February 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/46(A), 26 February 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/46(B), 23 February 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/46(C), 24 February 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/46(D), 24 February 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/46(E), 24 February 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/52(E), 28 February 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/53(A), 26 February 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/54G, 27 February 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/97, 31 March 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/99A, 1 April 1953, Record from Tehran by Henderson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/105G, 15 April 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/107, 7 April 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/107, 8 April 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/107, 10 April 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/110, 13 April 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/110, 16 April 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/110, 17 April 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/110, 20 April 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/110(A), 14 April 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/110(B), 15 April 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/110(G), 20 April 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/111, 13 April 1953, Minutes by A K Rothnie.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/112, 13 April 1953, Minutes by A K Rothnie.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/117, 23 April 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/117(A), 22 April 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/117(E), 24 April 1953, Minutes by A K Rothnie.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/118, 23 April 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/126, 31 March 1953, No 1378.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/127, 27 April 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/128, 24 April 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/128, 27 April 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/128(A), 23 April 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/128(B), 25 April 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/128(D), 27 April 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/129(E), 28 April 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/128(H), 1 May 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/128(I), 4 May 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/129(I), 3 May 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, EP1015/129(I), 4 May 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, From FO to Washington, 27 February 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, From Secretary of State On Board, 27 February 1953, R M S Queen Elizabeth to FO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, From Tehran to London, Sent dept 4179 RPTD info London 1381 pouched Tabriz Isfahan Meshed, 24 April 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, G10105/206, 28 May 1952, Minutes by RJ/RJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, Letter from Henderson, 9 April 1953, American Embassy, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, Letter from S. Falle to FO, 7 August 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, Letter signed by A D M Ross, 26 February 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, Letter signed by A D M Ross, 28 February 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, Quarrel between Musaddiq and the Shah, 23 February 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Record Office, Telegram No 174, From Tehran to FO, 9 March 1951, Repeated for information to Washington and BMEO.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Islamic Civilization, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Johor Bahru, Malaysia

    Mansoureh Ebrahimi

Authors
  1. Mansoureh Ebrahimi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mansoureh Ebrahimi .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Ebrahimi, M. (2016). Diverse Strategies Solidify Amid Anti-Mosaddeq Sentiment. 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_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation