The Iranian Coup of 1953

• In 1951, Iran nationalized its oil industry, which was owned by the British government.
• British leaders considered various actions, including a coup, to regain control of Iran's oil industry.
• British officials approached the CIA to carry out the coup, claiming that Mossadegh was leading Iran towards communism.
• Some CIA officers opposed the idea of overthrowing Mossadegh, but Allen Dulles, the director of the CIA, believed it was a good idea.
• The CIA sent a senior agent, Kermit Roosevelt, to direct the coup against Mossadegh.
• Roosevelt used Iranian agents and spent a lot of money to create an artificial wave of anti-Mossadegh protests.
• Members of parliament withdrew their support from Mossadegh, and religious leaders and newspapers depicted him negatively.
• Mossadegh called a national referendum, which he won overwhelmingly, but refused to step down.
• The Shah agreed to sign royal decrees dismissing Mossadegh from office and appointing General Zahedi as the new prime minister.
• The coup was successful, and Mossadegh was arrested, and the shah returned to Iran to reclaim his throne.

Think you know about the 1953 coup in Iran? Test your knowledge with this quiz that covers the nationalization of Iran's oil industry, British involvement, and the CIA's role in the coup. Discover the tactics used to overthrow Prime Minister Mossadegh and the aftermath of the coup that affected Iran's politics for decades to come. Take this quiz and show off your expertise on this significant event in Middle Eastern history.