Iran Timeline

Mosadeq appointed by the Shah and confirmed by the Majlis and held power through popular elections and emergency power until the 1953 coup

This causes British and Iranian oil relations to break apart as Mossadeq says British involvement is hurting Iran; causes UK to want coup

Resigns due to growing friction between him and the Shah over oil, Ahmed Ghavan takes over as prime minister

After 3 days of rioting in the streets, the Shah is forced to reappoint Mossadeq as Prime Minister

CIA begins to create plan, through covert operations, to build a pro US Iranian government; April 16, 1951 they decide that a coup is possible

Agencies meet to create plan for coup, given $1,000,000 budget by CIA, start a "grey propaganda" campaign to discredit his govenment

"The purpose will be to create, extend, and enhance public hostility and distrust and fear of Mossadegh and his government." — C.I.A. Document, Appendix B, page 15; July 1, 1953 British Prime Minister approves; July 11, 1953 President Eisenhower approves

CIA written decree to put Gen. Zahedi as Prime Minister isn't signed

Mossadeq calls for referendum to dissolve Parliament when he hears about the British and American plot

Shah officially supports coup

Mossadeq gets advance notice and coup fails; Zahedi goes into hiding and Shah flees to Baghdad

CIA spreads pictures of royal decrees to prove the claim; supporters of the Shah begin to demonstrate in the streets and another coup begins

Second Coup succeeds and Zahedi is in charge with members of Mossadeq government in hiding or jail

Zahedi helps bring the Shah back from hiding in Rome and the Shah demonstrates newfound power after the fall of Mossadeq

Sentenced to 3 years solitary confinement in military confinement and then kept on house arrest for rest of life

Zahedi is dismissed as Prime Minister and the Shah appoints Hossein Ala'

The Shah works to gain support of left wing intellectuals and gain public support through economic programs like Mossadeq was able to; he gains power and goes from a figurehead to a ruler that stays until the revolution in 1979

When Zahedi and the Shah returned, Zahedi was seen as the one with power and the Shah as a figurehead monarch so the Shah worked to stop this