Operation Ajax Essay

"Operation Ajax: The Power of Propaganda in Shaping Public Opinion"

Rishikarthik Velliangiri

220130

COMS101

Operation Ajax, commonly referred to as the Iranian coup of 1953, was an important event in the development of contemporary propaganda. The United States and the United Kingdom were successful in their endeavour to depose Iran's democratically elected government and replace it with a pro-Western one. The coup was orchestrated by the CIA and MI6 and was carried out on August 19, 1953, with the objective of protecting Western oil interests and preventing the spread of communism in the Middle East. For Iran and its people, the coup had far-reaching effects since it resulted in Shah's dictatorship, which was marked by political

ran was a conservative, rural nation at the time with a long history of monarchy and religion. Many Iranians were wary of outside influences and steadfast in their commitment to upholding their traditional way of life despite some attempts at modernisation under Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh, who tried to nationalise the nation's oil industry.

In terms of economic context, the Anglo-Iranian Oil Corporation (AIOC), afterwards known as British Petroleum (BP), was in possession of the majority of Iran's oil reserves at the time and practically monopolised the nation's oil production and exports. The Iranian monarchy, with whom the AIOC had a close relationship and which had given it favourable terms and tax exemptions, had allowed it to operate in Iran since the early 20th century.

The social context was also shaped by the Cold War and the geopolitical interests of the United States and the Soviet Union. The United States saw Iran as an important ally in the region and feared that if Iran fell under Soviet influence, it could threaten US interests in the Middle East. At the same time, the Soviet Union recognised a chance to broaden its influence and establish a presence in the

The CIA-produced and-operated "Voice of Iran" programme is one notable instance of this type of radio propaganda.

A few days prior to the coup, on the evening of August 18, 1953, the "Voice of Iran" programme aired. The Shah's designated successor to Mossadegh, General Fazlollah Zahedi, gave a dramatic statement during the broadcast. The purpose of Zahedi's speech was to convey the idea that the coup was required to save Iran from calamity and to bring back peace and stability to the nation.

Zahedi attacked Mossadegh's administration throughout the programme, calling it feeble and ineffective. Zahedi also claimed that the Tudeh Party, the Iranian Communist Party, was planning a coup of its own and that only the Shah and the pro-Western forces could prevent this from happening. In his appeal, Zahedi urged the people of Iran to back the coup and join him in the struggle against