The Global Story Operation Ajax: The CIA’s Iran coup
21 snips
May 11, 2026 
Scott Anderson, nonfiction writer on war and the Middle East and author of King of Kings, provides historical analysis of the 1953 Iran coup. He traces Britain’s oil role and Mossadegh’s nationalization. He recounts Operation Ajax, Kermit Roosevelt’s tactics, and how the coup shaped CIA covert practice and long-term U.S.–Iran tensions.
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British Oil Monopoly Fueled Mossadegh's Rise
- British control of Iranian oil created deep resentment that powered Mossadegh's nationalism.
- The Anglo-Iranian company paid Iran ~8¢ on the dollar and barred Iranian access to ledgers, making nationalization politically explosive.
Kermit Roosevelt Sneaks Into The Shah's Palace
- Kermit Roosevelt personally drove the coup effort and even snuck into the Shah's palace to force his cooperation.
- The Shah vacillated, fled Tehran by piloting to a Caspian palace, and only reluctantly rejoined after Roosevelt's intervention.
False Flag Street Violence Turned The Coup
- The coup initially appeared to fail but turned when the CIA hired street thugs to stage false-flag violence.
- Kermit Roosevelt rented hooligans to impersonate Mossadegh supporters and provoke a backlash that shifted public opinion.
