Iran

In 1951, Mohammad Mosaddeq became the first democratically elected leader of Iran. By 1953 he would be deposed by foreign interests for doing what any true democratic leader should do - protect the interests of the people.

The truth of Iran is that had the West not interfered in the 50’s it would very probably be a Constitutional Monarchy today.

Mosaddeq

Mohammed Mosaddeq was ostracized for scandals involving drugs and illicit activities was born on the 16th of June, 1882, in Ahmadabad. In 1909 he would spend two years in Paris studying at the Institut d'études Politiques de Paris - or the Paris Institute of Political Studies. In 1911 he begin studies in Switzerland at the University of Neuchâtel where he would, in 1913, receive a doctorate in law becoming the first Iranian to receive a doctorate of law from a European school. He would then go on to teach at the Faculty of Law and Political Science at the University of Tehran.

In short he was by no means an idiot. Quite the opposite.

He was a constitutionalist, supporting the Persian Constitutional Revolution. This would have a significant impact on his conclusions regarding the monarchy for decades, ultimately resulting in his foundation of the National Front in 1949.

The National Front

To this day, the National Front remains the largest pro-democracy movement in Iranian history.

It consisted of liberal democrats, socialists, nationalists, secularists, and even some Islamic groups. Their largest combined goal was clear - to nationalize the Iranian oil industry and to use that nationalization for the benefit of the Iranian people and government. In short, to diminish a foreign oil monopoly.

The British

While the Iranians did receive royalties from British oil concerns, the UK government itself was the primary shareholder in Iranian oil. The control of Iranian oil was highly strategic, it largely contributing to the British economy and its military, especially the navy. Losing it would be a considerable blow.

That said, the Iranians were displeased with the British and the Majlis would, in 1949, reject a revised supplemental agreement. Nationalization would follow in 1951.

In Between

The newly elected National Front government set out with a clear objective to nationalize Iranian oil. On March 15th, 1951, legislation to nationalize the industry was passed by a majority of votes. On the 17th of March, the Majlis verified the nationalization of the Iran oil industry, and the AIOC (Anglo-Iranian Oil Company) would be forced to succumb to it.

Of course, the British simply could not fathom the loss of their holdings in Iran. They relied on Iranian oil.

In the meantime, Mosaddegh introduced a range of social programmes benefiting the people, including social security and tax reforms.

TP-AJAX Project

The TP-AJAX Project, also known as Operation Ajax, was the codename given covert US and British operations that would result in the 1953 Iranian coup d'état.

Ajax was pure PSYOPs. It involved the covert bribery of Iranian officials, promoting pro-coup propaganda, paying protesters, and media manipulation to undermine the government. Of course charges of “communism” were thrown around given the time, just as occurred with Árbenz in Guatemala.

While all of this might sound ridiculous to some, the CIA would admit its role in 2013 and by 2017 would declassify documents.

On December 21st, 1953, Mosaddeq was sentenced to solitary confinement for treason despite being a democratically elected leader. He would die on March 5th, 1967.

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

Some western historians claim that Iran post Mosaddeq was better. They are profoundly wrong.

After the success of Operation Ajax, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi would become the country’s leader, the last Shah in Iranian history, the second of his line, dismantling Iranian parliamentary democracy, with the Americans and British in the wings.

There are two distinct aspects of his rule that have to be examined.

The White Revolution

Researching the realities of the White Revolution is a tricky business. Many sources cast it in a wholly positive light. That said, the issue is much more complex.

• Yes, after its implementation women were given the right to vote. That said, that right would not be halted after the revolution and today Iranian women still possess the right to vote. Mind you, their existence in government is incredibly low.

• While many point to land reform policies as being positive, the reality is that three distinct classes of landowners would emerge. The first was land ownership by the Pahlavi, the Shah’s family. The second included bailiffs, established village headmen, and landlords of noteprominence. The third were sharecroppers who controlled no less than, or were granted, 10 hectares of land.

• While the per capita income would increase, it would only largely affect the middle and upper classes.

The Larger Issue

Despite the overall promise of the White Revolution the Shah would be thought responsible for the misappropriation of some 20 billion dollars in funds.

• The Pahlavi Foundation, a charitable entity, was as a tax haven and infiltrated nearly every sector of Iran's economy.

• The Shah’s sister, Princess Ashraf, was an alleged drug trafficker as well as being corrupt.

• The Shah’s half brother, Prince Hamid Reza, would ultimately be ostracized for various scandals involving drugs and other illicit activities.

None of these things occurred during Mosaddeq’s time in office.

Unfortunately, things get worse.

Human Rights Abuses

Despite the “glory” that was promised with the implementation of the White Revolution, the Shah was no less an authoritarian. His secret police, the SAVAK, would be responsible for egregious crimes - including rape, beatings, nail extraction, electric shock, sleep deprivation and forced standing, and burnings on heated surfaces.

The torture of political opponents was drastic.

Amnesty International would determine in the 1970’s that the Shah’s government was a significant human rights violator. They estimated that there were between 25,000 to 100,000 political prisoners held in jail by late 1976 subject to ill treatment.

Again, no such thing happened when Mosaddeq was in power.

The Revolution

The Iranian Revolution, both by students and the religious establishment, was a direct response to the Shah’s corruption. While it would ultimately end in a near reflection of authoritarianism, the impetus is clear. Had Mosaddeq not been removed from power Iran may very well be a constitutional democracy today, if not a republic.

That fault lies with the British and the Americans.