Iranian Revolution: Operation Ajax

For 60 years and counting, the United States and Iran have had a very turbulent relationship. From a coup d'état performed by the United States and Britain to an Iranian Revolution, this is a seesaw of tensions by frenemies America and Iran. Since the 1950s, both nations have had tricky issues revolving around Operation Ajax and the U.S Embassy Hostage Crisis. Operation Ajax was started by the overthrow of Iran’s democracy in 1953 due to Great Britain and the United States involvement. This joint operation replaced Iran’s first democratic government with a U.S biased dictator in order to help Americas’ foreign policy. In 1908, “a UK-based financier William D’Arcy struck oil in Iran, and started the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC), which
would later become British Petroleum.” (Buzzle) Thus, in 1909, Britain forced Iran to sign the Anglo-Persian Agreement causing Britain to have control over many of Iran’s’ resources. In 1951 to 1954, the Abadan Crisis (Dispute over the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company) began. New Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossaddegh who was against Britain initialized the nationalization of the Iranian Oil Company and took the oil back from Britain in 1951. Mossaddegh was against Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (The current Shah of Iran) ideas, caused Mossaddegh to nationalize the oil. The nationalization of oil is to take control of the oil industry and ban Western Companies from their oil refineries in Abadan, Iran. Iranians praised Mossaddegh for taking back what was rightfully theirs while Britain completely opposed. Great Britain was concerned of the Iranian Oil Company because before the nationalization, Britain would be exported a bunch of oil and gain humongous profits. To get back at Mossaddegh, the UK asked for support of Americas’ then President Truman to perform a coup for Mossaddegh but he disagreed to partake in the coup. “We tried to get the block-headed British to have their oil company make a fair deal with Iran," Truman complained privately, but "no, no, they could not do that." (Origins) When Eisenhower was elected in 1953, the plan was approved because at the time, the Cold War was in action so Iran was a tactical and vital location to further the American foreign policy in the Middle East and without Mossaddegh, he would be replaced with General Zahedi so both the Shah and the newly replaced Prime Minister would sell the oil to western nations. With the help of the U.S. and other international oil companies, the oil was boycotted and had a naval blockade. Little by little, the reputation of Mossaddegh lessened by U.S interference. Once Mossaddegh was overthrown, in the year 1953, he was replaced with Fazlollah Zahedi and the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi regained power and popularity amongst the people. With both in authority, they had the power to advance in westernizing Iran. The oil was also back into Britain’s and America hands. After Sixty years, the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) admitted they were involved in the coup. Britain has yet to comment.
Furthermore, into their relations, the Iran Hostage Crisis comes next.
The Iran Hostage Crisis was when 52 Americans were held hostage for a year and 79 days in November 4th 1979 to January 20th, 1981 by University students in support of Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini. This is a continuation from Operation Ajax effects on U.S. ties with Iran. (Also, known as the U.S. Embassy Crisis) During the 25 years the Shah ruled, many Iranians feared the autocratic leader. The Shah created the SAVAK police based from the CIA and the Israeli Mossad. Whoever disobeyed the law, was imprisoned or tortured. A “White Revolution” began from 1963 through 1978 imposing a sequence of reforms that opposed the traditional system. In January 1963, the Shah announced the White Revolution. Enforcing women’s’ rights, land reform, allowing non-Muslims to hold office, westernizing Iran, and much more were some of the initiatives for this revolution. Pahlavi imparted fear to the people and tried to modify Iran in every which way. During his time in office, people didn’t appreciate the Shah for his abuse of power and thought he was adversative to Iran’s society made up of 90% Muslims. They looked up to anti U.S radical religious leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Khomeini began to protest and give speeches about Iran’s’ Shah and his plans in January of 1963. Throughout the months of January through June, Khomeini gave speeches about the Shah and soon his crowd of people grew from nothing to many many people. In June 1963, authorities took Khomeini and detained him in Qom, Iran and took him to Tehran. This caused an uproar as his followers rioted. He was released in August but almost a year later, in November he was held in jail for half a year and was forced to apologize after he was released. Standing up for his views, Khomeini stood his ground and didn’t apologize. Later, he spent 14 years in exile and stayed in Turkey for less than a year and Iraq for the rest. While in exile, Khomeini
views on Iran were still around from cassette tapes that went around Iran. Iran got so bad that riots were a daily thing. The Shah faced many threats from his own people that he fled Iran in blank blank computer not working. Two months later I think, Khomeini was called to rule Iran. This was the first glimpse of Radical Islam/Iran. Then, in November 4th 1979, Student of the University of blank stormed the U.S Embassy in Tehran, Iran. They took 66 Americans and held 52 people hostages. Hours later it was confirmed it was in favor of Supreme Leader Khomeini. In order to free the hostages, the militants asked for 5 things.