Diplomatic Files, Embassy Telegrams, U.S. Estimates
The Mossadegh Project [Updated October 26, 2022] |
This archive collects declassified State Department documents on Iran, Premier 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.
• CIA Documents on Iran, Mossadegh, 1953 Coup
• National Security Council (NSC) documents on Iran
• British Foreign Office documents on Iran
• Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC/BP) | Archive
Ambassador Henry Grady Meets New Premier Mossadegh | May 2, 1951
Estimate of the Political Strength of the Mosadeq Government | May 4, 1951
Mossadegh’s Strength “Derives From the Spirit Of Nationalism” | May 6, 1951
Shah “Quite Unhappy” About Mossadegh Win, Oil Nationalization | May 7, 1951
Henry Grady on Mossadegh’s Cabinet, Oil Committee Prospects | May 7, 1951
Iranian Situation (Henry S. Villard to Paul Nitze) | May 24, 1951
Arrival in New York of Mohamad Hosein and Khosro Qashqai | June 25, 1951
Gerald F. P. Dooher on the Qashqai Brothers Visit | June 29, 1951
Max Thornburg Meets With Dean Acheson, William Rountree | July 5, 1951
Max Thornburg: Notes For Discussion With Dean Acheson | July 5, 1951
Dean Acheson to Grady Reacting To Mossadegh Letter | July 11, 1951
Amb. Henry Grady Reports on Mossadegh Meeting | July 29, 1951
Amb. Walter Gifford’s Telegram on Britain and Iran | July 29, 1951
Iranian Situation (Henry S. Villard to Paul Nitze) | September 26, 1951
Ernest Gross Advises British To Revise Approach on Iran | October 2, 1951
George McGhee’s First Meeting With Dr. Mossadegh | October 8, 1951
George McGhee’s Solo Meeting With Premier Mossadegh | October 9, 1951
U.S. Oil Kings Air Iran Concerns With State Dept. | October 10, 1951
Meeting With Dr. Mossadegh at New York Hospital | October 11, 1951
Truman, Acheson and Mossadegh Talk at Blair House | October 23, 1951
Acheson, Nitze, McGhee and Mossadegh at Walter Reed | October 24, 1951
Mossadegh, George McGhee Talk Oil at the Shoreham Hotel | October 28, 1951
6 US, British Diplomats Compare Views on Iran | November 14, 1951
1952
Dean Acheson’s Telegram To French Embassy on Ghavam | April 1, 1952
Loy Henderson’s 2½ Hour Discussion With Dr. Mossadegh | July 28, 1952
William E. Warne: My Visit With Ayatollah Kashani | August 12, 1952
Sec. of State Dean Acheson’s Letter to Premier Mossadegh | October 5, 1952
The Communist Danger in Persia | October 8, 1952
Comments on the British Paper entitled “The Communist Danger in Persia” | October 8, 1952
Discussion of British Paper on “The Communist Danger in Persia” | Oct. 8, 1952
Proposal to Organize a Coup d’état in Iran | November 26, 1952
British Proposal to Organize a Coup d’état in Iran | December 8, 1952
1953
Communism In the Free World (Iran: pp. 235-258) | January 1953
Sec. of State Dulles Advises British on AIOC Legalities | January 26, 1953
Henderson and Mossadegh’s First Post-Inauguration Meeting | Jan. 28, 1953
The Iranian Petroleum Situation | February 19, 1953
Loy Henderson Panics Over the Shah’s Pending Departure | February 25, 1953
Loy Henderson Wants To “Take Some Action” For Shah | February 26, 1953
Loy Henderson Warns of Serious Consequences In Iran | February 27, 1953
John Foster Dulles: We Are Currently Assessing Crisis | February 27, 1953
Loy Henderson Accepts Risks of Interference Charge | February 28, 1953
Dulles Approves Of Henderson’s “Energetic Measures” | February 28, 1953
Measures which the United States Government Might Take in Support of a Successor Government to Mosadeq | March 1953
Loy Henderson on the Opposition’s Chances Against Mossadegh | May 8, 1953
William E. Warne’s Discussion With Ali Akbar Akhavi | May 20, 1953
Henderson: “No Hope” For Oil Settlement With Mossadegh | June 25, 1953
Prior to Coup, U.S. Seeks Understanding With British on Oil | June 25, 1953
Popularity and Prestige of Prime Minister Mohammed Mosadeq | July 1, 1953
Tudeh Newspaper “Shojat” Predicts Iran Coup Plot | August 16, 1953
After Failed Iran Coup, U.S. Mulls Wait & See Approach | August 16, 1953
Amb. Loy Henderson Scorns Iranian Conspiracy Theorists | August 21, 1953
Dulles to Henderson on Strategy For Marketing Iranian Oil | Sept. 23, 1953
U.S. Considers 2-Year World Bank Takeover of Iranian Oil | Sept. 29, 1953
Amb. Henderson and Hoover’s Dinner With Zahedi, Entezam | Oct. 29, 1953
Abdollah Entezam Outlines Iran’s Position on Oil | November 2, 1953
Winthrop W. Aldrich on Meeting With British Re: Iran Oil | November 5, 1953
State Dept. Legal Adviser Herman Phleger on Iran Oil Talks | Dec. 8, 1953
1954
Amb. Loy Henderson Ponders Interfering in Iran Elections | January 18, 1954
Livingston T. Merchant to Sec. Dulles on Iranian Oil, AIOC | February 16, 1954
John D. Jernegan Memo to Robert Murphy on Oil Consortium | May 15, 1954
Loy Henderson’s Telegram on Iran Oil Consortium Details | May 17, 1954
Status Report on Iran Oil Negotiations (Donald D. Kennedy) | June 16, 1954
Sec. Dulles’ Message to Pres. Eisenhower Re: Iran Oil Deal | August 3, 1954
Sec. Dulles and Anthony Eden’s Messages on Iran Oil Deal | August 5, 1954
British Aide-Mémoire on Oil Compensation Settlement | Aug. 5, 1954
Text of Joint British-Iranian Statement Re: Compensation | Aug. 5, 1954
Text of Joint British-Iranian Statement Re: Sterling Payments | Aug. 5, 1954
U.S. Says Oil Deal Is A “Significant Victory” For Iran | October 28, 1954
Shah of Iran “Greatly” Encouraged By U.S. Help | December 21, 1954
1955
1960’s
Agitational Activities of Anti-Shah Iranian Students in the United States | October 5, 1963
The Shah’s Meeting With Kermit Roosevelt, Jr. | July 27, 1966
Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Iran, 1951–1954, Volume X (1989)
Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952-1954, Iran, 1951–1954, Second Edition (2018)
American Policy in the Middle East During 1953 | Iran | Jan. 29, 1954
Statement by Amb. Loy Henderson on Iran Oil Deal | August 5, 1954
John Foster Dulles Heralds “A New Era For Iran” | August 5, 1954
Sec. Dulles to Premier Zahedi and Abdollah Entezam | August 5, 1954
Foreign Minister Abdollah Entezam’s Reply to Sec. Dulles | August 9, 1954
Joint Statement by Howard Page, Ali Amini on Iran Oil Deal | Aug. 16, 1954
Iranian Oil Agreement | October 28, 1954
FOA Announces Program of Aid to Iran | November 22, 1954
Arrangements for Participation in Iranian Oil Consortium | Dec. 7, 1954
Demonstration of Iranian Students in Manila | November 14, 1979
Iranian Student Activities in Manila | November 20, 1979
Appeal To Student Groups: Hostages | November 20, 1979
Security During Iran Crisis | November 26, 1979
Related links:
Iran Severs Diplomatic Relations With Britain (October 1952 Ultimatum)
Pres. Eisenhower and the Shah Trade Compliments After Iran Oil Deal | Aug. 5, 1954
Mossadegh Slept Here: A Fateful Convergence At Walter Reed Hospital
MOSSADEGH t-shirts — “If I sit silently, I have sinned”




