Left Coast Correspondent: No, the CIA didn't overthrow a democratically elected Iranian government in 1953

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7 MIN READ – With Iran back in the really, really big headlines the Cautious Optimism Correspondent for Left Coast Affairs and Other Inexplicable Phenomena dismantles the eternal myth that “America created today's Islamic regime problem back when the CIA overthrew the democratically elected president of Iran in 1953.”

PM Mossadegh and the Shah

The Left Coast Correspondent hat tips foreign policy writer Tim Starr for forwarding an excellent Peter Theroux article on Iran’s “coup that never was.”

The Correspondent recommends Theroux’s column highly, but it’s a long 20 minute read here:

https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/israel-middle-east/articles/cia-coup-in-iran-that-never-was-mossadegh

So for those with less time, here’s:

1) A brief synopsis that only takes one minute, and...

2) For those willing to continue for another couple of minutes an interesting confirmation of Theroux’s thesis using Google Gemini AI, but only if you know the right questions to ask.

One minute synopsis: 

According to Theroux’s column, then-Iranian Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh:

1) Was not democratically elected by the people, but rather appointed by the Shah and confirmed by the Iranian parliament, much how Supreme Court justices and Attorneys General are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

(Theroux points out that Americans never refer to “the democratically elected Justice Brett Kavanaugh” or “the democratically elected Merrick Garland,” but we’ve been told for decades about “the democratically elected Mohammed Mossadegh”)

2) Was far from democratic himself. He dissolved Iran’s supreme court and then, having alienated every political constituency with his radical and authoritarian policies except the communist Tudeh party, he dissolved parliament using an unconstitutional, disputed, non-secret ballot election where he officially received more than 99 percent of the vote granting him autocratic powers.

3) Was not overthrown in a coup, but rather dismissed by the Shah of Iran who had the constitutional authority and had previously used it over a dozen times prior.

4) The CIA did not carry out the alleged coup, although it did urge the young and uncertain Shah to stand up to his increasingly autocratic prime minister. Rather, it was the Shah and the Iranian military who legally removed Mossadegh from power, and if anyone can be accused of attempting a coup it was Mossadegh himself. 

The extent of the CIA's involvement was financial support for pro-Shah protesters to counter Soviet-backed Tudeh communist party protestors who had regularly attacked Mossadegh's opponents and journalists.

5) Members of the present-day Iranian opposition roll their eyes every time they hear a progressive westerner sanctimoniously declare that “the CIA overthrew the democratically elected government of Iran” and consider such westerners useful tools parroting the Islamic regime’s venerable propaganda.

That's the end of the 1 minute synopsis.
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For those willing to read on, the Left Coast Correspondent confirms Theroux’s allegations using Google AI but has learned it’s very important how you word the questions if you want to get to the truth.

For example, when asking Google Gemini AI using the straightforward media version:

Q1. “Was the democratically elected prime minister of Iran overthrown in a 1953 coup?”

The answer is:

A1. “Yes, the democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran, Mohammad Mosaddegh, was overthrown in a 1953 coup orchestrated by the United Kingdom and the United States. This coup, known as the 1953 Iranian coup d'état, aimed to oust Mosaddegh and reinstate the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The coup was driven by the desire to regain control of Iran's oil resources, which Mosaddegh had nationalized.”

But if one knows to ask more deliberate and pointed questions, the less widely reported truth emerges:

Q2. “Was Mohammed Mossadegh elected by popular vote?”

Gives us…

A2. “No, Mohammad Mossadegh was not directly elected by popular vote as Prime Minister of Iran. He was appointed by Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi in 1951, based on the authority granted to the Shah by the Iranian Constitution at the time. While his appointment was confirmed by the Iranian parliament (Majlis), this was an endorsement by representatives, not a direct national election by the people.”

More examples of the truth being a bit more complicated than the accepted narrative, once again provided you know how to ask the questions, include:

Q3. “Did the Shah of Iran have the constitutional authority to dismiss the prime minister?”

A3. “Yes, according to the 1906 Iranian constitution, the Shah had the constitutional authority to appoint and dismiss prime ministers. The Constitution outlined that the Ministers were appointed and dismissed by the decree of the King. While the Majlis (parliament) also had the power to dismiss ministers, one source suggests that there were differing interpretations, with some believing that the Majlis alone held the power to elect or terminate the Prime Minister. However, other sources emphasize the Shah's authority in this regard, stating that the Prime Minister served ‘at the pleasure of the monarch.’”

Q4. “Did the Shah of Iran dismiss other prime ministers before Mohammed Mossadegh?”

A4. “Yes, the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, had dismissed other prime ministers before Mohammad Mossadegh. In fact, sources indicate that there had been 14 recess appointments or dismissals of prime ministers prior to Mossadegh's dismissal. This suggests that the Shah's ability and willingness to change prime ministers was already established before his tenure with Mossadegh. Mossadegh himself was aware of this historical pattern.”

Q5. “Did Mohammad Mossadegh dissolve parliament in a disputed referendum?”

A5. “Yes, Mohammad Mossadegh did dissolve the Iranian Parliament (Majlis) following a disputed referendum in 1953. The referendum, held in August 1953, resulted in over 99% of voters supporting the dissolution. However, this referendum and its legitimacy were questioned.”

Q6. “Did the Iranian constitution allow popular referendums to dissolve parliament in 1953?”

A6. “No, the Iranian constitution in 1953 did not allow for popular referendums to dissolve the parliament (Majlis). 

"Here's why:

”Shah's Constitutional Right: The constitution at that time granted the Shah (Mohammad Reza Pahlavi) the sole constitutional right to dissolve the Majlis.

”Mossadegh's Referendum: Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh held a referendum in August 1953 on the dissolution of parliament.

”Referendum's Illegality: This action by Mosaddegh was considered illegal under the constitution as it usurped the Shah's constitutional authority.

”Controversial Nature: The referendum itself was also criticized for its non-secret balloting process and the lack of opportunity for opponents to cast their votes easily.”

Q7. “Did Mohammad Mossadegh dissolve the Iranian Supreme Court?”

A7. “Yes, Mohammad Mossadegh, as Prime Minister of Iran, did order the dissolution of the Supreme Court in November 1952. According to a New York Times article from November 17, 1952, he ordered the court dissolved within five days. This action was taken amidst political tension and Mossadegh's increasing consolidation of power. Wikipedia notes that Mossadegh had already begun relying on emergency powers to rule, and his move to dissolve the court further fueled accusations of his becoming dictatorial.”

Correspondent’s side note: If Donald Trump dissolved the Supreme Court and dissolved Congress and was subsequently removed from office, can anyone picture progressive western intellectuals and journalists complaining for 70 years about “the coup that overthrew America’s democratically elected president?” 

It would be 70 years of Mardi Gras in the network news studios.

Q8. “Was the Iranian Tudeh party backed by the Soviet Union?”

A8. “Yes, the Iranian Tudeh Party was heavily influenced by and heavily reliant on the Soviet Union. It was effectively a pro-Soviet communist party in Iran. The Soviets played a significant role in its formation and subsequent activities, with the party often acting in accordance with Soviet interests, even at times at the expense of Iranian independence.”

Q9. “Did the Iranian Tudeh attack opposition and the press?”

A9. “Yes, the Iranian Tudeh Party has engaged in actions that have been described as attacks on opposition and the press at various points in its history… … During this period, the Tudeh Party formed an "unofficial alliance of convenience" with Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh. While Mosaddegh did not officially endorse them, the Tudeh Party acted as "foot soldiers" for his government and engaged in violent attacks against opponents under the guise of supporting him, which contributed to Mosaddegh's declining reputation.”

Q10. “Did the Shah of Iran dismiss Mohammed Mossadegh with the help of the Iranian military?”

A10. “Yes, the 1953 Iranian coup, also known as Operation Ajax, involved the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and relied on the Iranian military, along with support from the United States and the United Kingdom. The coup aimed to remove Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh from power.

"Here's a more detailed breakdown:

“Initial Coup Attempt: The coup was initiated on August 15, 1953, with the goal of dismissing Mossadegh. The Shah, initially hesitant, fled to Italy when the first attempt failed.”

”Second Attempt: A second, successful attempt on August 19 led to Mossadegh's removal and the appointment of Fazlollah Zahedi as the new Prime Minister.

”Military Involvement: The Iranian military played a crucial role in the coup, supporting the Shah's actions and ultimately leading to Mossadegh's downfall.

“International Support: The United States and the United Kingdom also provided significant support to the coup, including financial assistance and propaganda efforts according to Wikipedia.”

Correspondent’s comment: It appears the truth really is out there in AI search engines provided you know the key details to ask about in advance.

Enjoy the article.