Editing Mohammad Mossadegh (section)

==Prime Ministership==
Mossadegh was appointed prime minister on April 28, 1951, by the Majlis, following the assassination of his predecessor, Ali Razmara, who opposed oil nationalization. His tenure was defined by bold reforms and intense international opposition.

	•	Key Policies:
	◦	Oil Nationalization: On May 1, 1951, Mossadegh’s government nationalized the AIOC, renaming it the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC). The move aimed to redirect oil revenues to education, healthcare, and infrastructure, but it provoked Britain’s fury, leading to a boycott of Iranian oil and economic sanctions.
	◦	Democratic Reforms: Mossadegh strengthened parliamentary authority, reduced the Shah’s powers, and promoted land reform and labor rights, earning support from workers, students, and the middle class.
	◦	Foreign Policy: He pursued a non-aligned stance, rejecting Soviet influence while resisting Western domination. Mossadegh sought U.S. support, believing President Harry Truman would back Iran’s sovereignty, but the U.S. sided with Britain under Dwight Eisenhower.

	•	Opposition and U.S./British Interference:
	◦	Domestic Resistance: The Shah, conservative clergy, and wealthy elites opposed Mossadegh’s reforms, fearing loss of power. The Tudeh Party (communist) initially supported him but later clashed over his anti-Soviet stance.
	◦	Operation Ajax: Britain and the U.S., fearing Mossadegh’s nationalism and potential Soviet alignment, orchestrated Operation Ajax, a CIA-MI6 coup. Led by Kermit Roosevelt Jr., the operation bribed military officers, politicians, and media, and incited riots to destabilize Mossadegh. The U.S. allocated $1 million, with Britain contributing intelligence via MI6.

	•	Economic Crisis: Britain’s oil boycott and U.S.-backed sanctions crippled Iran’s economy, causing inflation and shortages. Mossadegh’s refusal to compromise on nationalization, despite negotiations at the UN and World Court, isolated Iran but galvanized nationalist support.