In 1951, the Iranian Parliament elected Mohammad Mossadeq—
the leader of the secular, progressive National Front
party—as prime minister. An avid advocate of nationalization,
Mossadeq promptly seized the British-owned Anglo-
Iranian Oil Company (AIOC). The nationalization of the
AIOC both reflected the growing frustration of Iranians regarding
foreign influence and shifted economic power away
from international actors and toward Iran.6 Despite the acute
fiscal crisis that followed, the move won Mossadeq a tremendous
amount of prestige within Iran. However, it also provoked
an international reaction as Britain and the United
States became concerned that a hostile nationalist government
might further compromise their interests in the region.
Amid escalating tensions, Mohammad Reza Shah fled to
Rome in 1953. With the support of the British, the shah,and the United States, Mossadeq was ousted in a coup in
August of the same year, when Iranian army forces loyal to
the shah arrested Mossadeq and paved the way for the return
of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi.