Operation Ajax

As Presented In A People’s History of American Empire

11.9 Students analyze U.S. foreign policy since World War II.

3) Trace the origins and geopolitical consequences (foreign and domestic) of the Cold War and containment policy.

Directions: Read A People’s History of American Empire pages 232-253 and answer the questions which follow. There is a fair amount of thinking involved

1) What is the name of the capital city of Iran?

2) Who was the leader of Iran in 1953?

3) Beginning in 1912, what country controlled Iran’s oil?

4) To what position was Mohammad Mossadegh elected in 1951?

5) On June 11th, 1951 Mossadegh nationalized Iran’s oil industry. What does that mean?

6) What was the British response? What did Truman demand the British do?

7) When Mossadegh met with Truman in Washington what did he tell Truman would happen if the British boycott continued?

8) President Eisenhower had a different approach toward Mossadegh than did Truman. What did Eisenhower want to do? Who devised the plan which the C.I.A. would use?

9) Do you think the Shah wanted to participate in the overthrow of Mossadegh? Explain.

10) After the Shah “chickened out again” and Mossadegh dissolved the Majlis (parliament), what actions did the C.I.A. take?

11) After the coup began to collapse what did Washington advise Kim Roosevelt to do? What did he do?

12) After the coup began to collapse what did the Shah do? Why do you suppose he did this?

13) What did Kim Roosevelt ask from the Iranians in exchange for the installation of the Shah (at the time represented by General Zahedi) as leader of Iran? Why do you suppose that was?

14) How many people died in the fighting over the leadership of Iran?

15) What percentage of Iran’s oil industry was controlled by U.S. oil companies after the coup?

16) At this point would you consider Operation Ajax successful? Explain.

17) For how long after the coup did Shah Pahlavi rule Iran?

18) What did Shah Pahlavi do immediately after returning to Iran? Do you think that aligns with American ideals? Explain.

19) What is an Ayatollah? What happened to Ayatollah Khomeini when he protested the Shah’s politics?

20) How would you characterize life in Iran under Shah Pahlavi? How does that relate to the rise of Ayatollah Khomeini? What were his specific complaints about the Shah’s actions/politics? When the Ayatollah overthrew Shah Pahlavi, why were hostages taken at the U.S. embassy?

21) Review questions:

- What industry made it important for the U.S. to have access to Iran?

- Who nationalized Iran’s industries?

- Why did that scare the U.S.?

- Who did the U.S. keep in power in Iran despite a lack of popular support?

- In the long run, do you believe American involvement in Iran was successful? Explain.