Overview of Iran 1945-1989

Syllabus Topic

National Studies

Option H: Iran 1945-1989

• Survey

  - Iran from the end of World War II to the 1953 Coup, including:

  - the impact of World War II on Iran, the influence of the Soviet Union and the background of the Cold War

  - the election of Mosaddeq to the Majlis (Parliament of Iran) and the nationalisation of the Iranian oil industry

  - Churchill, Eisenhower and the overthrow of Mosaddeq

During 1945 and 1953, Iran became a focal point of international politics. After World War II, it was caught between the influence of the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union. Struggles over political independence, democratic reform, and control of oil resources shaped Iran’s path. These tensions eventually led to the rise of Mohammad Mosaddeq and his nationalisation of oil, followed by a foreign-backed coup that overthrew him in 1953. 

The Impact of World War II on Iran, the Influence of the Soviet Union, and the Background of the Cold War 

During World War II, British and Soviet forces occupied Iran to secure supply routes and oil. The young Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, remained in power, but foreign influence was strong. After the war, Soviet troops refused to leave northern Iran immediately, supporting separatist movements in Azerbaijan and Kurdistan. This crisis was one of the first confrontations of the Cold War, as the United States pressured the USSR to withdraw in 1946.  

The Election of Mosaddeq to the Majlis and the Nationalisation of the Iranian Oil Industry  

In 1951, Mohammad Mosaddeq was elected Prime Minister by the Iranian parliament (Majlis). A nationalist and reformer, he aimed to reduce foreign influence and strengthen democracy. His most famous policy was the nationalisation of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC), which had been controlled by Britain. This decision was extremely popular in Iran, where many felt exploited by unfair oil agreements. However, it triggered a major conflict with Britain, which imposed an oil embargo and took the case to the International Court of Justice. 

Churchill, Eisenhower, and the Overthrow of Mosaddeq 

The British government under Winston Churchill, frustrated by Mosaddeq’s oil nationalisation, sought U.S. support to remove him from power. At first, the Truman administration hesitated, but after Dwight D. Eisenhower became U.S. president in 1953, Cold War fears about communism made Washington more willing to act. Together, the CIA and Britain’s MI6 launched Operation Ajax, which organised protests, bribed politicians, and used the Shah’s authority to dismiss Mosaddeq. The coup succeeded in August 1953, ending Iran’s democratic experiment and restoring the Shah’s control with strong Western backing. 

Conclusion 

Between 1945 and 1953, Iran moved from foreign occupation in World War II to hopes of independence under Mosaddeq, only to be drawn back under foreign influence after the 1953 coup. The struggle over oil and Cold War rivalries determined Iran’s political fate, leaving a legacy of mistrust towards Western powers that shaped its later history.  

SOURCES: 

The National WWII Museum: Cold War 

International Court of Justice: case 

The Latin Library: Operation Ajax 

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