Zahedi and Eisenhower’s Post-Coup Messages
| Arash Norouzi The Mossadegh Project | April 23, 2025 |
President Eisenhower was about to
enjoy a six day vacation in the Rockies when he replied to a message from the new Iranian Premier, Fazlollah Zahedi. The next morning he flew to a mountain lodge in Fraser, Colorado to fish, golf and paint.
Ike’s response was immediate, composed the same day as Zahedi’s August 26th plea for U.S. financial aid. It was a week after the U.S. backed coup in Iran that
made Zahedi the new Premier in place of Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh. His reply to Zahedi paired with his congratulatory message to the Shah after Mossadegh was ousted.
The Eisenhower-Zahedi messages were quoted liberally or printed in full in U.S. newspapers, as well as being published in the State Department Bulletin.
At a National Security Council meeting on August 26th, Sec. of State John Foster Dulles brought up the content of the messages, with the possibility of sending an additional $35 million to Iran. Ten days after Zahedi’s request,
Iran got $45 million, in addition to 23.5 million in technical assistance.
• President Dwight D. Eisenhower | Letters, Speeches, Etc.
• U.S. State Department | Iran Documents (1951-1954)
Premier Fazlollah Zahedi to Pres. Dwight D. Eisenhower
August 26, 1953
Dear Mr. President:
I wish to express to you and through you to the American people the appreciation of the Iranian Government and people for the aid which the United States has extended to Iran during recent years. This aid has contributed much to the
security of the country and to the raising of its technical efficiency. The assistance which the United States is already rendering Iran, helpful as it is, is unfortunately not sufficient in amount and character to tide Iran over the
financial and economic crisis which I find it to be facing. The treasury is empty; foreign exchange resources are exhausted; the national economy is deteriorated. Iran needs immediate financial aid to enable it to emerge from a state
of economic and financial chaos.
Iran also requires aid of an economic character to enable it to carry out programs which the government is preparing for developing its agriculture and industry, for exploiting its rich mineral resources, for improving its transport
and communications, for strengthening its internal and foreign trade, and for raising the health, education and technical levels of the Iranian people.
The people of Iran are anxious to have a prosperous, orderly country in which they can enjoy higher standards of living and make greater use of their talents and resources. They are willing, if given an opportunity, to work hard in
order to obtain these objectives, but the realization of their aspirations may be delayed for sometime unless they receive technical, financial, and economic aid from abroad. I hope that the United States will find it possible at this
critical moment in Iranian history to come to my country’s assistance as it has done on occasions in the past.
In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that it is the intention of the new Government of Iran not only to strengthen the country internally but also to improve its international position. The government desires to maintain friendly
relations with the other members of the family of nations on a basis of mutual respect. It will pursue a policy of eliminating such differences as may exist or which may develop between other countries and itself in a spirit of
friendliness and in accordance with accepted principles of international intercourse. I am sure that I voice the feelings of the great majority of the people of Iran when I state that Iran desires to contribute its share to the
maintenance of peace and to the promotion of international goodwill.
Please accept, Mr. President, the assurance of my highest consideration.
• Source: Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952-1954, Iran, 1951–1954 (2017). [301. Letter From Iranian Prime Minister Zahedi to President Eisenhower].
“Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Iran, 1953–58(8), Box 32. The text of the letter is printed from a White House press release of September 1. The letter is also printed in Public Papers: Eisenhower, 1953, pp. 579–580.
Printed from a copy that indicates Zahedi signed the original.” — U.S. State Dept. Office of the Historian
(See also footnotes below Eisenhower’s reply).
Pres. Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Reply To Premier Fazlollah Zahedi
August 26, 1953
Dear Mr. Prime Minister:
I have received your letter of August 26 regarding the problems which you face in Iran. The American people continue to be deeply interested in the independence of Iran and the well-being of the Iranian people. We have followed
policies in Iran, as in other countries of the free world, designed to assist peoples of those countries to bring about economic development which will lead to higher standards of living and wider horizons in knowledge and opportunity.
I am gratified that the aid which we have extended has contributed to the security of Iran and to the raising of the technical efficiency of the Iranian people. I am also pleased to have your assurance that your Government desires to
maintain friendly relations with other members of the family of nations and that it will pursue a policy of eliminating such differences as may exist or which may develop with other countries in a spirit of friendliness and in
accordance with accepted principles of international intercourse.
In an effort to assist you in dealing with your immediate problems, I have authorized my Ambassador to Iran to consult with you regarding the development of our aid programs there. [Amb. Loy Henderson, who
wrote Zahedi on Aug. 27] I recognize that your needs are pressing. Your request will receive our sympathetic consideration and I can assure you that we stand ready to assist you in achieving the aspirations for your country
which you have outlined.
Please accept, Mr. Prime Minister, the assurances of my highest consideration.
• Message made public on Sept. 1, 1953.
Sources include:
Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952-1954, Iran, 1951–1954 (2017). [302. Letter From President Eisenhower to Iranian Prime Minister Zahedi].
“The White House announced on September 5 that $45 million would be made available for immediate economic assistance to Iran, in addition to the existing military and technical assistance programs. (Ibid., p. 581)
Printed from a copy with this typed signature and an indication that the President signed the original.” — U.S. State Dept. Office of the Historian
The Department of State Bulletin
Vol. XXIX, No. 742 • PUBLICATION 5188
September 14, 1953
"IRANIAN REQUESTS FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE"
Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1954. [178. ¶ Exchange of Letters Between the President and Prime Minister Zahedi Concerning the Need for Increased Aid to Iran.
September 1, 1953]. Footnote:
“The letters were released at Lowry Air Force Base, Denver, Colo.
On September 5 the White House announced that the President had made available on an emergency basis $45 million to be used for the immediate economic assistance of Iran under the Mutual Security Act. The release pointed out that the
amount was in addition to existing U.S. technical assistance and military programs in Iran.”
• The letters were also entered into the Congressional Record by Maurice J. Mountain during hearings on U.S. aid operations in Iran (May 2, 1956).
In response to a request for urgent assistance from the new Government of Iran, the President has made available on an emergency basis $45,000,000 which will be used for the immediate economic assistance of Iran in accordance with the
procedures of the Foreign Operations Administration under the Mutual Security Act. This amount is in addition to existing U.S. technical assistance and military programs Iran.
There is great need for immediate assistance to restore a measure of stability and establish a foundation for greater economic development and improvement in the living standards for all the people of Iran.
It is hoped that, with our assistance, there will be an increase in the internal stability of Iran which will allow the development of a healthy economy to which an early effective use of Iran’s rich resources will contribute.
Zahedi & Churchill’s Secret Messages After 1953 Coup in Iran
Related links:
Informal Outline of Gen. Zahedi’s Proposed Program for Iran (1953)
“Zahedi Is In Definite Control” | CIA’s John Waller, Aug. 20, 1953
Premier Mossadegh’s Final Message To Pres. Eisenhower | May 28, 1953
MOSSADEGH t-shirts — “If I sit silently, I have sinned”
