Declassified Records from the Mossadegh Era
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“The political forces which brought Mossadeq and the National Front to power are powerful and lasting.” — Nov. 1952 NIE
This archive collects declassified CIA documents on Iran, Dr. Mossadegh, oil negotiations and the 1953 coup. The transcribed documents are supplemented with in-depth analysis, footnotes, annotations and other background information, with regular updates to follow.
• U.S. State Department Documents | IRAN
• National Security Council (NSC) docs | IRAN
• U.S. Congress on Iran | Archive (1951-1981)
• British Foreign Office documents on Iran
• Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC/BP) | Archive
1940’s
1951
Clandestine Services History
Overthrow of Premier Mossadeq of Iran
November 1952 - August 1953
Collaboration between the Tudeh Party and Mullah Ayatollah Kashani | November 23, 1948
NIE: The Importance of Iranian and Middle East Oil To Western Europe Under Peacetime Conditions | January 8, 1951
Mardom Attacks US For Imperialistic Designs in Iran | February 2, 1951 (Info from Sept. 13, 1950)
Iran: R. L. Hewitt to Ray S. Cline | March 15, 1951
The Current Crisis In Iran | March 16, 1951
Iran: Leading Prime Ministerial Candidates | March 28, 1951
Iran’s Position In the East-West Conflict | April 5, 1951
Implications of the Iranian Situation | April 18, 1951
Situation In Iran (Memo For the Director) | April 20, 1951
The Soviet Attitude Toward the Situation In Iran Since the Assassination of Razmara | April 30, 1951
Pan-Iran Movement | May 10, 1951
Current Developments In Iran | May 22, 1951
Anglo-Iranian Developments | May 28, 1951
Division Within the National Front | June 6, 1951
Press Account of Alleged Infiltration of Soviet Officers Into Iran | June 11, 1951
Iranian Dangers | June 18, 1951
Comments on British Draft Document, “Military Implications of the Entry of British Forces into Persian Territory” | June 20, 1951
Iranian Developments (Memo For the Director) | July 6, 1951
Role of the Haifa Refinery in the Iranian Crisis | July 9, 1951
Effects of Closing Down the Iranian Oil Industry | July 11, 1951
Purchase of Iranian Nickel by Metalimex | July 12, 1951
Topics Discussed at Tudeh Youth Meetings | July 20, 1951
Recruiting of German Technicians For Abadan Refineries | July 23, 1951
Visit of Dr. Baghai to Khuzistan | August 6, 1951
Change in Attitude of Iranian Government toward the Tudeh Party | August 15, 1951
Iranian Economy In the Event of A Successful Oil Settlement | August 21, 1951
Untitled Document on Oil Nationalization | August 22, 1951
Order of Oil Pipe for Shipment to Iran | September 4, 1951
Meeting of Roman Isayev and Mullah Kashani | September 7, 1951
Current Strength of the Tudeh Party In Iran | September 13, 1951
Catalytic Cracking Plant In Abadan | September 21, 1951
NIE-46: Current Outlook In Iran | September 25, 1951
Soviet Trade With Iran | September 25, 1951
Possible Rapprochement Between National Front and Tudeh Parties | October 9, 1951
Kermit Roosevelt on CIA Suppression of Iran’s Communists | October 9, 1951
Postponement of Possible Tudeh “Revolution” | October 10, 1951
India’s Attitude Toward the Anglo-Iranian Dispute | October 11, 1951
Iranian Oil Commission Head Refuses to Return to Abadan | October 12, 1951
Analysis of Iranian Political Situation | October 12, 1951
Soviet Activities Along the Iranian Border | October 16, 1951
Import and Export of Commodities Across the Soviet-Iranian Frontier | October 16, 1951
Conversation with Iranian Ambassador to Italy Regarding Iran’s Oil Problem | October 27, 1951
Import and Export of Commodities Across the Soviet-Iranian Frontier | October 31, 1951
Movement of Soviet Vessels at Iranian Ports in the Caspian Sea | November 7, 1951
Tudeh Anticipation of Police Raids | November 16, 1951
Anti-Communist Statements By Mullah Kashani | November 17, 1951
Anti-Tudeh Measures of Iranian Police | November 20, 1951
Meeting Between Shah and Prime Minister Mossadegh | November 30, 1951
Soviet Ultimatum on Assistance to Iran Reported | December 9, 1951
The 6 December Riots in Tehran | December 12, 1951
Current Outlook In Iran | December 19, 1951
1952
Annotated Gazetteer of the Middle East Petroleum Industry | 1952 (undated)
Election Activities of the Tudeh Party | January 5, 1952
Probable Developments In Iran In 1952 In The Absence of An Oil Settlement | February 4, 1952
The Tudeh Party | February 7, 1952
Conflicting US and UK Estimates of the Iranian Situation | February 15, 1952
Untitled Document On Mossadegh’s Position (#15-19) | February 21, 1952
Untitled Document On Mossadegh’s Position (#22-27) | February 21, 1952
Finnish Tanker Enroute to Abadan | April 23, 1952
Weekly Instructions to Tudeh Members | May 16, 1952
Estimated Capabilities of the USSR to Build a Trans-Iranian Pipeline From Abadan to the Caspian Sea (A Preliminary Report) | July 14, 1952
Estimated Capabilities of the USSR to Build a Trans-Iranian Pipeline From Abadan to the Caspian Sea (continued) | July 14, 1952
An Evaluation of the Significance of the National Front Movement In Iran | July 1, 1952
Psychological Strategy Plan For the Middle East | July 25, 1952
CIA Ponders Mossadegh’s Mental Stability | July 29-30, 1952
Mossadegh “Crazy Like A Fox”, Willing To Deal With U.S. | July 30, 1952
Ayatollah Kashani’s Threat to Mossadegh | September 7-30, 1952
The Iranian Situation | September 11, 1952
New NIE on Iran | September 15, 1952
Alleged Refuelling of Polish Ships With Iranian Oil | September 18, 1952
Prospects For Survival of Mossadeq Regime in Iran (For Board Consideration) | October 3, 1952
SE-33: Prospects For Survival of Mossadeq Regime in Iran | October 4, 1952
Prospects For Survival of Mossadeq Regime in Iran | October 14, 1952
Tudeh Party Attitude Regarding Certain Political Leaders and Elements | October 21, 1952
Background of 13 October Draft Revision of NSC-107/2 (Iran) | November 5, 1952
Extract From NSC-136 (Iran) NSC Staff Draft of 7 November 1952 | November 7, 1952
Probable Developments In Iran Through 1953 | November 13, 1952
CIA Proposed Re-wording, Paragraphs 2–3 of NSC 136 Draft of 6 November 1952 | November 14, 1952
Comments On the Iranian Situation | November 26, 1952
Solution in Iran | November 28, 1952
1953
Communism In the Free World (Iran: pp. 235-258) | January 1953
Moslems Distrust USSR Advances | January 5, 1953
Probable Developments In Iran Through 1953 (NIE) | January 9, 1953
Mossadeq’s New Proposals Offer No Hope For Oil Settlement | Jan. 31, 1953
Mossadeq Plans To Announce End of Oil Negotiations | February 17, 1953
Internal Threat To Iranian Security | February 18, 1953
The Iranian Petroleum Situation | February 19, 1953
Iranian Prime Minister Faces Growing Opposition | February 21, 1953
Indication of Support of the Tudeh Party by Kashani | February 23, 1953
Prime Minister Mossadeq’s Threat To Resign | February 24, 1953
Mossadeq Continues To Strengthen His Position | February 26, 1953
Developments In Iran (For CIA Director Allen Dulles) | February 27, 1953
The Iranian Situation (Allen Dulles to Pres. Eisenhower) | March 1, 1953
Iranian Situation | March 4, 1953
Attitude of Shah Concerning His Present Position | March 16, 1953
Mossadeq Slowly Consolidating Position | March 1953
Measures which the United States Government Might Take in Support of a Successor Government to Mosadeq | March – July 1953
General Zahedi Seeks Shah’s Support To Overthrow Mossadeq | April 2, 1953
Mossadeq’s Version of His Conflict with the Shah | April 7, 1953
The Iranian Situation (Briefing Notes For the NSC) | April 21, 1953
The Iranian Situation (Briefing Notes For the NSC) | April 27, 1953
Iranian Tudeh Party Is No Longer Illegal | May 1953
Rumored Massing of Troops in Southern Iran | May 5, 1953
Probable Development of Soviet Bloc and Western Power Positions | June 30, 1953
Moscow’s Changing Attitude Toward Iran | July 1, 1953
Kermit Roosevelt on Iran Political Situation | July 14, 1953
Kermit Roosevelt on Iran Political Situation | July 15, 1953
Kermit Roosevelt on Iran Political Situation | July 16, 1953
Kermit Roosevelt on Iran Political Situation | July 17, 1953
Tudeh Demonstration - 21 July (undated) | July 22?, 1953
Political Prospects In Iran | July 29, 1953
CIA Drafts Official U.S. Statement For After 1953 Coup In Iran | Aug. 5, 1953
Board Estimate of the Current Outlook In Iran | August 13, 1953
Shah’s Decrees Obtained, Zahedi Needs Firm Guidance | August 14, 1953
The Iranian Situation | August 17, 1953
Assessment of the Iranian Situation | August 17, 1953
Memorandum Prepared in the Directorate of Plans | August 17, 1953
Telegram to Burton Berry & Kermit Roosevelt | August 17, 1953
Telegram to Burton Berry from Kermit Roosevelt | August 17, 1953
SE-49: The Current Outlook In Iran | August 19, 1953
Telegram From the Central Intelligence Agency to the Station in Iran | August 20, 1953
CIA Commendations For Officers Involved In 1953 Coup | August 20-26, 1953
SE-49: The Current Outlook In Iran | August 21, 1953
SE-49: The Current Outlook In Iran | August 24, 1953
Tudeh Party Instructions | August 25, 1953
The Current Outlook In Iran | August 26, 1953
Immediate Prospects In Iran | August 27, 1953
Immediate Prospects In Iran (State Dept. Review Completed) | Aug. 27, 1953
The Situation In Iran | September 1953
Anti-Tudeh Activities of Zahedi Government | September 10, 1953
Transmittal of Texts of Messages Sent By Prime Minister Zahedi and Prime Minister Churchill | September 16, 1953
Kermit Roosevelt on Iran Political Situation | September 21, 1953
Kermit Roosevelt on Iran Political Situation | September 24, 1953
Causes and Circumstances of Mossadeq’s Downfall | October 5, 1953
The Co-op Position in a Possible Oil Settlement | October 13, 1953
Kermit Roosevelt on Zahedi’s Meeting With Kashani | October 20, 1953
Highlights of the Mossadeq Trial | November 1953
Letter to Herbert Hoover, Jr. (Unsigned) | November 1, 1953
Probable Developments in Iran through 1954 | November 10, 1953
Opposition to the Zahedi Regime | November 12, 1953
A Study of Electoral Methods in Iran | November 13, 1953
Tudeh Party Comparison of Events of 21 July 1952 and 19 August 1953 | November 24, 1953
Domestic and Foreign Policies, Attitudes, and Opinions | November 26, 1953
Tudeh Party Instructions | December 9, 1953
Tudeh Party Reaction To Nixon Visit and Resumption of Iranian-British Relations | December 15, 1953
Status of Communist Penetration of Iranian Military Establishments (undated draft) | December 29?, 1953
The Situation In Iran | December 30, 1953
Iranian Oil Production | December 30, 1953
Iran [Undated Memo Four Months After 1953 Coup] | Dec-Jan. 1953
1954
Iran: Strengthening of the Army | January 12, 1954
Situation in the Tudeh Party | January 12, 1954
Status Report on Iranian Elections | January 26, 1954
Letter From Allen Dulles Commending Donald N. Wilber | January 30, 1954
Personalities in the Zahedi Government | February 16, 1954
The Outlook In Iran | March 5, 1954
Campaign To Install Pro-Western Government In Iran | March 8, 1954
Consequences In Iran of a Failure to Achieve an Early Settlement | March 29, 1954
United States Policy Toward Iran | April 14, 1954
Iranian Reactions To Oil Consortium Proposals | April 28, 1954
Corruption in the Zahedi Government | June 14, 1954
Impending Political Crisis In Iran | June 15, 1954
Status of Iranian Oil Negotiations | June 18, 1954
Status of Iranian Oil Negotiations | June 25, 1954
Status of Iranian Oil Negotiations | July 2, 1954
CIA Propaganda and Psy-Ops in Iran To Help Zahedi Survive | July 8, 1954
Status of Iranian Oil Negotiations | July 9, 1954
Status of Iranian Oil Negotiations | July 23, 1954
Status of Iranian Oil Negotiations | July 30, 1954
Conclusion of Iranian Oil Negotiations | August 6, 1954
Iran: Economic Situation | August 18, 1954
Progress Report on NSC 5402 (Iran) | October 13, 1954
Probable Developments In Iran Through 1955 | December 7, 1954
1955
Situation In Iran | January 13, 1955
18 July 1955 Issue of Rah-e-Mosadeq, Organ of the NRM | Sept. 21, 1955
1956
Background--Iran (NSC Briefing) | September 26, 1956
1957
The Outlook For Iran | January 23, 1957
1960’s
Explosive Developments In Iran | May 4, 1961
Iran’s Financial Crisis | June 2, 1961
The Visit of the Shah of Iran | May 30, 1964
The Shah of Iran’s Current Outlook | March 30, 1966
Intelligence Memorandum: The Shah of Iran and His Policies | June 5, 1967
Intelligence Memorandum: Elections In Iran | August 1, 1967
The Shah’s Increasing Assurance | May 7, 1968
1970
Student Unrest Abroad | August 1970
Iran’s International Position | September 3, 1970
1971
Nothing Succeeds Like a Successful Shah | October 8, 1971
1972
Centers of Power in Iran | May 1972
Recent Trends In Iranian Arms Procurement | May 1972
The Shah of Iran’s Role as a Regional Leader | May 4, 1972
Mr. Kermit Roosevelt’s 26 April Meeting with the Shah of Iran | May 8, 1972
Talking Papers for the President’s Discussions in Iran | May 18, 1972
Iran: Internal Dissidence - A Note of Warning | June 12, 1972
Iran: Royal Revolution Revisited | July 27, 1972
1973
Iran: The Economy (National Intelligence Survey) | May 1973
1978
Iran After the Shah: An Intelligence Assessment | August 1978
Iran: The National Front | November 30, 1978
Iran: The Tudeh Party and the Communist Movement | December 8, 1978
1979
Iran: CIA Reports (Hamilton Jordan’s Confidential Files) | November 1979
Soviet Relations with the Shah | December 31, 1979
1980
Iran: Bani-Sadr’s Foreign Policy Views | February 1980
Iran: Implications of the Shah’s Death for the Hostages | March 1980
Internal Histories
by Dr. Donald N. Wilber, March 1954
• Cover and Historian’s Note
• SUMMARY
I. PRELIMINARY STEPS
II. DRAFTING THE PLAN
III. CONSOLIDATING THE OPERATIONAL PLAN
IV. THE DECISIONS ARE MADE: ACTIVITY BEGINS
V. MOUNTING PRESSURE AGAINST THE SHAH
VI. THE FIRST TRY
VII. APPARENT FAILURE
VIII. “THE SHAH IS VICTORIOUS”
IX. REPORT TO LONDON
X. WHAT WAS LEARNED IN THE OPERATION
APPENDICES
A Initial Operation Plan for TPAJAX as Cabled from Nicosia to Headquarters on 1 June 1953
B “London” Draft of the TPAJAX Operational Plan
C Foreign Office Memorandum of 23 July 1953 from British Ambassador Wakins to under Secretary of State Smith
D Report on Military Planning Aspect of TPAJAX
E Military Critique: Lessons Learned from TPAJAX re Military Planning Aspects of Coup d’Etat
Campaign To Install Pro-Western Government In Iran | March 8, 1954
The Battle for Iran | undated/1970’s (Version released in 1981)
The Battle for Iran | undated/1970’s (Version released in 2013)
“Zendebad, Shah!: The Central Intelligence Agency and the Fall of Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadeq, August 1953” by Scott A. Koch | June 1998
The Road to Covert Action in Iran, 1953 | by Scott A. Koch, Studies in Intelligence, Vol. 48, No. 2 (June 2004)
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Mossadeq’s Spy Service | 1953
Dr. Mossadeq and Reza Shah | 1953
How Mossadeq Makes Enemies of Our Neighbors | 1953
Negativism and Positivism | 1953
Mossadeq’s Desperate Adventure | 1953
Oppression of the Workers by Mossadeq Dictatorship | 1953
The Opium Government | July 8, 1953
Along the Road Toward Dictatorship | August 1953
The Decline and Fall of the Shah (1988)
The Economics of Overthrow: The United States, Britain, and the Hidden Justification of Operation TPAJAX (2012)
New York Times Covers and Aids 1953 Coup in Iran (Sept.-Oct. 1980)
Related links:
The CIA Scheme to Have the Shah ‘Dismiss’ Mossadegh: August 16, 1953
The CIA Crisis | The Washington Post, December 24, 1974 editorial
Estimate of the Political Strength of the Mosadeq Government (May 1951)
MOSSADEGH t-shirts — “If I sit silently, I have sinned”
