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  1. Home
  2. Books
  3. Behind the 1953 Coup in Iran
  • Cited by 9
  • Ali Rahnema, The American University of Paris, France
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
Online publication date:
November 2014
Print publication year:
2014
Online ISBN:
9781139875974
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139875974
Subjects:
Middle East Studies, Area Studies, History, Middle East History
Information

Book description

Ali Rahnema's work is a meticulous historical reconstruction of the Iranian coup d'état in 1953 that led to the overthrow of Mohammed Mosaddeq and his government. Mosaddeq's removal from power has probably attracted more attention than any other event occurring during his tenure because of the role of foreign involvement, the political, economic and social impact on Iran, and the long-term impact the ousting had on Iran-US relations. Drawing on American, British and Iranian sources, Rahnema closely examines the four-day period between the first failed coup and the second successful attempt, investigating in fine detail how the two coups were conceptualised, rationalised and executed by players on both the Anglo-American and Iranian sides. Through painstaking research into little-studied sources, Rahnema casts new light on how a small group of highly influential pro-Britain politicians and power brokers revisited the realities on the ground with the CIA operatives dispatched to Iran and how they recalibrated a new, and ultimately successful, operational plan.

Reviews

'Ali Rahnema’s new book on the 1953 coup presents a comprehensive, balanced account of this seminal event. It is meticulously researched, carefully reasoned and engagingly written. It will stand as the definitive work on this subject for many years to come.'

Mark Gasiorowski - Tulane University, Louisiana

'Behind the 1953 Coup in Iran offers an in-depth and detailed examination of the events leading to the 1953 coup in Iran. By exploring a broad range of primary and archival sources it makes original contributions to current debates on the ouster of Mosaddeq.'

Ali Gheissari - University of San Diego

'This extraordinarily impressive study has moved the historiography of the most controversial event in modern Iranian history onto an altogether different plane. In a forensic analysis of four critical days, the actions and motives of the main perpetrators, including for the first time army officers, power brokers, and mobsters, are laid bare in compelling detail.'

John Gurney - Wadham College, Oxford

'Based on far-ranging Iranian, British, and American archival sources, Behind the 1953 Coup in Iran is an indispensable and fair-minded account of the clandestine operations that overthrew the legal government of Mohammed Mosaddeq. It studies Mosaddeq’s own ethical and economic dilemmas as well as the calculations of British and American intelligence agents. Not least it includes a clear chronological table, biographical notes and detailed maps, which will establish it as a work of reference. Above all, it assesses the consequences for the Iranian people and the way in which Mosaddeq’s fate has engaged generations of historians.'

Wm. Roger Louis - University of Texas

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Contents

Contents
References

Bibliography

Archival documents

  • British Foreign Office: FO.

  • British Petroleum Archives, University of Warwick: BP.

  • Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS), Iran, 1952–54: FRUS.

  • Iranian Oral History Collection, Harvard University.

  • National Security Archives, The George Washington University, Washington.

  • RAIOH (Research Association of Iranian Oral History), Berlin.

Works in Persian

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Afrasiyabi, B. and Dehqan, S., Taleqani dar Tarikh (Tehran: Niloufar, 1360).
Afrasiyabi, B., Khaterat va Mobarezat-e Doctor Hoseyn Fatemi (Tehran: Sokhan, 1366).
Aqeli, B., Sharh-e Hal-e Rejal Siyasi va Nezamiy-e Moaser Iran (Tehran: Goftar, 1380).
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‘Alikhani, A. N., Yaddashthay-e ‘Alam, vol. 1 (Bethesda: Iranbooks, 1992).
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‘Alikhani, A. N., Yaddashthay-e ‘Alam, vol. 3 (Bethesda: Iranbooks, 1995).
‘Alikhani, A. N., Yaddashthay-e ‘Alam, vol. 6 (Bethesda: Ibex Publishers, 2008).
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Aqeli, B., Roozshomar-e Tarikh-e Iran, vol.1 (Tehran: Nashr-e Goftar, 1369).
Aramesh, A., Haft sal dar zendan-e Ariyamehr (Tehran: Bongah-e Tarjomeh va nashr-e Ketab, 1358).
Araqi, M., Nagoftehha (Tehran: Rasa, 1370).
Askari, H., Shah, Mosaddeq, Sepahbod Zahedi (Sweden: Arash, 2000).
Azizi, G., Hezb-e Sosialist-e Melli-e Kargaran-e Iran (Tehran: Markaz-e Asnad-e Enqelab-e Eslami, 1383).
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Be Ravayat-e Asnad-e SAVAK, Rowhaniy-e Mobarez Ayatollah Seyyed Abolqasem Kashani, vols.1 and 2 (Tehran: Markaz-e Barrasiy-e Asnad-e Tarikhiy-e Vezarat-e Ettela‘at, 1379).
Be Ravayat-e Asnad-e SAVAK, Seyyed Ziaeddin Tabatabai’e (Tehran: Markaz-e Barrasiy-e Asnad-e Tarikhiy-e Vezarat-e Ettela‘at, 1381).
Be Ravayat-e Asnad-e SAVAK, Mozaffar Baqa’i (Tehran: Markaz-e Barrasiy-e Asnad-e Tarikhiy-e Vezarat Ettela‘at, 1382).
Be Ravayat-e Asnad-e SAVAK, Rashidiyanha, vols 1, 2 & 3 (Tehran: Markaz-e Barrasiy-e Asnad-e Tarikhiy-e Vezarat Ettela‘at, 1389).
Be Ravayat-e Asnad-e SAVAK, Azad Mard: Shahid Tayeb Haj-Reza’i (Tehran: Markaz-e Barrasiy-e Asnad-e Tarikhiy-e Vezarat Ettela‘at,1378),
Be Ravayat-e Asnad-e SAVAK, Jebhey-e Melli (Tehran: Markaz-e Barrasiy-e Asnad-e Tarikhiy-e, 1379)
Behzadi, A., Shebh-e Khaterat, vol. 2 (Tehran: Ata‘i, 1388).
Bozorgmehr, J., Doctor Mohammad Mosaddeq dar Dadgah-e Tajdid Nazar (Tehran: Enteshar, 1365).
Elahi, S., Seyyed Zia, Mard Aval ya Mard-e Dovom-e Coup d’état (LA: Ketab Corp, 2011).
Fardust, H., Zohur va Soqute Saltanat-e Pahlavi, vol. 1 (Tehran: Entesharat-e Ettela‘at, 1390).
Golmohammadi, A., Jam’iyate Fadaiyan Eslam be Ravayat-e Asnad, vol. 2 (Tehran: Markaz-e Asnad-e Enqelab-e Eslami, 1382).
Homayoun, D., Man va Rouzegaram (Hamburg: Nashre Talash, 1387).
Hoseyni, M., Khaterat-e Mohammadmehdi ‘Abdkhoda’i (Tehran: Markaz-e Asnad-e Enqelab-e Eslami, 1379).
Jami, Gozashteh Cheraq Rahe Ayandeh (Tehran: Entesharat Niloufar, 1362).
Javanshir, F. M., Tajrobeh 28 Mordad (Tehran: Entesharat Hezb Toudeh Iran, 1359).
Karamipour, H., Khaterat-e Doctor Shervin (Tehran: Markaz-e Asnad-e Enqelab-e Eslami, 1384).
Ketab-e Siyah dar bareh Sazeman Afsaran Tudeh, n.a, (n.p, n.p, Esfand 1334).
Keymaram, M., Rofaqaye Bala (Tehran: Shabaviz, 1374).
Khameh’i, A., Az Ensha‘ab ta Kudeta (Tehran: Hafteh, 1363).
Khameh’i, A., Panjaho Seh Nafar (Entesharat Hafteh: Tehran n.d).
Lajevardi, H., Khaterat Amir Teymur Kalali (Bethesda, Markaz Motale ‘at Khavarmiyaneh Daneshgah Harvard, 1977).
Makki, H., Vaqaye’ Siyom-e Tir (Tehran: Entesharat-e ‘Elmi, 1378).
Maleki, A., Tarikhcheh Jebhey-e Melli (Tehran: Taban, n.d).
Manzarpour, A., Dar Koucheh va Khiyaban (Tehran: Vezarate Farhang o Ershad-e Eslami, 1386).
Mirza’i, S., Tayeb dar Gozar-e Lutiha (Tehran: Madiya, 1381).
Mohammadi, M. J., Raze Piruziye Kudetaye 28 Mordad (Koln: Forough, n.d).
Mosaddeq, G., Dar Kenar Pedaram (Tehran,Rasa, 1369).
Mosaddeq, M., Khaterat va Ta’alomat (Tehran: ‘Elmi, 1365).
Mossavar Rahmani, G., Kohneh Sarbaz (Tehran: Rasa, 1366).
Movahhed, M. A., Khabe Ashofteh Naft (Tehran: Karnameh, 1378).
Nejati, G. R, Jonbesh Melli Shodan-e Naft-e Iran (Tehran: Enteshar, 1366).
Pahlavi, M. R., Ma‘muriyat Baray-e Vatanam, (Paris: Parang, 1366).
Rahnema, A., Niruhaye Mazhabi bar bastar Nehzat-e Melli (Tehran: Gam-e No, 1384).
Safari, M. A., Qalam va Siyasat (Tehran: Namak, 1371).
Sahabi, E., Mosaddeq, Dowlat-e Melli va Koudeta (Tehran: Tarh-e No, 1380).
Salemi, M. H., Tarikh Nehzat-e Melli Shodan Naft-e Iran az Negahi Digar (Tehran: Markaz-e Asnad-e Enqelab-e Eslami, 1388).
Sanjabi, K., Omidha va Naomidiha (London : Nashre Ketab, 1368).
Sarshar, H., Sha‘ban Ja‘fari (Los Angeles: Nashr-e Nab, 1381).
Shahhoseyni, H., An Suye Khaterehha (Tehran: Samadiyeh, 1388),
Shifteh, N., Zendeginameh va Mobarezat Siyasiye doctor Mosaddeq (Tehran: Koomesh, 1370).
Tafazoli, A., Sargozashti Pishneveshteh (Tehran: Entesharat-e Atta’i, 1381).
Tafreshi, M. and Taherahmadi, M., Gozareshhay-e Mahramaneh Shahrebani, vol. 2 (Tehran: Entesharat-e Sazeman Asnad-e Melli, 1371).
Torbatiy-e Sanjabi, M., Koudetasazan (Tehran: Kavosh, 1376).
Torkaman, M., Tote’eh Robodan va Qatl-e Sarlashgar Afshartus (Tehran : Rasa, 1363).
Towfiq, A., Qanouni boodan ya nabodan-e farman-e azl Mosaddeq (Paris: Entesharat Sahand, 2008).
Varqa, M., Nagoftehha’i Piramoun-e Fororiziye Hokumat Mosaddeq va naqsh Hezbe Tudeh-e Iran (Tehran: Baztabnegar, 1384).
Zahedi, A., Khaterat-e Ardeshir Zahedi, vol. 1 (Tehran: Ketab Sara, 1385).
Zohtabfard, R., Ghoghaye Naft (Tehran: Chap Akhtar Shomal, n.d).

Works in English

Bayandor, D., Iran and the CIA (NY: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010).
Cottam, R. W., Iran and the United States (PA: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1988).
Cottam, R. W., Nationalism in Iran (PA: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1979).
Dorman, W. and Farhang, M., The U. S. Press and Iran (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1987).
Dorril, S., MI6: Fifty Years of Special Operations (London: Fourth Estate, 2001).
Falle, S., My Lucky Life (Sussex: The Book Guild, 1996).
Gasiorowski, M. J. and Byrne, M., (eds.) Mohammad Mosaddeq and the 1953 Coup in Iran (Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 2004).
Louis, W. R., The British Empire in the Middle East 1945–1951 (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1984).
Love, K., The American Role in the Pahlavi Restoration on August 1953 (Unpublished manuscript, Allen Dulles Papers, Princeton University Library, 1960).
Luttwak, E., Coup d’état (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1979).
Pahlavi, A., Faces in a Mirror (NJ: Prentice–Hall, 1980).
Roosevelt, K., Countercoup (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1979).
Wilber, D., Clandestine Service History. Overthrow of Premier Mossadeq of Iran, http://cryptome.org/cia-iran.htm.
Woodhouse, C. M., Something Ventured (London: Granada, 1982).

Further reading

Abrahamian, E., The Coup: 1953, The CIA and the Roots of modern U.S.-Iranian Relations (New York: New Press, 2013).
Azimi, F., Iran: The Crisis of Democracy (London: I.B.Tauris, 2009).
Bill, J. and Louis, Wm. R., Mussadiq, Iranian Nationalism, and Oil (London: I.B. Tauris 1988)
De Bellaigue, C., Patriot of Persia (New York: Harper, 2012).
Katouzian, H., Musaddiq and the Struggle for Power in Iran (London: I.B. Tauris, 1999).
Kinzer, S., All the Shah’s Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror (New Jersey: Wiley, 2008).

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