The first session was held on Sunday, marking the 71st
anniversary of the coup, at the 55th branch of the court dealing with
international affairs in Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Judicial Complex.
This
lawsuit, brought by some 402,000 Iranians, targets six American individuals and
legal entities for their involvement in the ousting of Mosaddegh, which paved
the way for the pro-Western monarchy of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi until the 1979
Islamic Revolution.
Lawyer Shami Aghdam, representing the plaintiffs, stated that
"documents show the US spy agency CIA, with the help of its British
counterpart MI6, planned the coup by using internal and external agents against
the legitimate government of Iran on August 19, 1953."
Aghdam further explained that Washington and London designed
the military coup through violating international principles and rules, and
interfering in the internal affairs of Iran, intending to maintain their
influence and power in the government, securing their interests and looting the
country’s property.
He added that the coup was carried out by military and
political figures affiliated with the US and British governments, as well as
"thugs."
Aghdam concluded by stating that In fact, the coup marked
the beginning of Washington’s complete domination over Iran to make it more
dependent than before and prevent its independence and progress. The domination
lasted for more than 25 years and inflicted costs, as well as material and
spiritual damage, on the country and the nation.
The
1953 coup in Iran is known as Operation Ajax by the United States and its
lesser-involved ally, Britain. The putsch happened after the Brits took umbrage
at Mosaddegh’s decision to nationalize the Iranian oil industry, previously
controlled by the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC). This move angered Britain,
which relied heavily on Iranian oil.
After failing to force the Iranian Prime Minister to walk
back on his decision through an economic siege, London decided to seek direct
help from the US, who Mosaddegh believed could be a relying partner for Iran in
the absence of Britain.
The
CIA, under the direction of Kermit Roosevelt Jr., began planning the coup in
early 1953. The operation aimed to create unrest and discredit Mossadegh while
rallying support for the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The CIA’s main tool to
incite public discontent against Mossadegh was propaganda. Americans portrayed
the leader as a communist threat, while also funding opposition groups and
organizing violent demonstrations.
On August 19, 1953, the coup was executed. Initially, it
faced setbacks, but after some strategic adjustments and further riots,
military forces loyal to the Shah took control of Tehran. Mossadegh was
arrested, and the Shah was reinstated with increased power.
As
stated by many historians as well as top Iranian figures and politicians, the
coup toppling Mosaddegh in 1953 opened the floodgates to decades of the US
meddling in Iran’s internal affairs. The upheaval, though bitter in nature,
also became the first lesson that Iranians learnt, the US cannot be trusted
when it comes to respecting the sovereignty, integrity, and independence of
other countries.
“There are some people who say that we should somehow
compromise with the US because this way, their enmities might decrease. No,
[This is not right]. They have not even shown mercy to those who trusted,
pinned their hopes on, and referred to the US for assistance,” Leader of the
Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei explained during a gathering
in 2017. “Who for example?
Dr. Mosaddegh. In order to fight and stand up against the
English – this is what he wished to do – he turned to the Americans. He met
with and negotiated with them and asked for their help. He trusted them. [But]
The coup d'état of the 28th of Mordad (1953 coup) was not launched by the
English, rather it was launched by the US against Mosaddegh.”
