Throughline – "Four Days in August"

Episode Date: February 7, 2019
Hosts: Rund Abdelfattah & Ramtin Arablouei

Overview:

The inaugural episode of NPR’s Throughline revisits the seismic events surrounding the 1953 Iranian coup d’état, orchestrated in large part by the CIA and MI6. The episode transports listeners to Tehran in August 1953, uncovering the backstory behind the coup that ousted Iran’s democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh and reinstated the Shah. Through narration, interviews with historians and eyewitnesses, and vivid archival reports, the hosts illuminate how this pivotal moment set the stage for decades of fraught US-Iran relations and shaped the geopolitics of the Middle East.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Tehran, August 1953

Opening Sequence: The tension in Tehran on the eve of a coup as Mossadegh awaits his fate.
- “Elected Prime Minister of Iran, Mohammad Mosadegh was sitting at home waiting. He knew something was coming and he had no idea if he’d still be Prime Minister by morning.” – Rund Abdelfattah (00:31)
First Coup Attempt Fails
- Details of the initial failed military operation to oust Mossadegh.
- Mossadegh’s forces outmaneuver coup plotters by receiving an early warning (01:07).
- “When the soldiers arrived at Mossadegh’s house to arrest him, other soldiers jumped out of the woods and arrested those guys.” – Narrator (01:29)
Significance: Sets up the broader theme – this was just the beginning of foreign intervention and subterfuge that would alter Iran’s destiny (01:42).

2. Unpacking the CIA Coup Plan

Introduction to Kermit Roosevelt (CIA Chief orchestrating the coup)
- Well-connected, Ivy League, grandson of Theodore Roosevelt (07:10–07:35).
Covert Steps to Destabilization (08:25–11:20)
1. Seizing the Press:
  - Bribery and anti-Mossadegh propaganda.
  - CIA not only paid Iranian journalists, but even wrote fake stories themselves.
    - “I would write an article about how Mossadegh was an atheist and he hated God… a couple of days later, a guy from the analysis division would run over… holding up an Iranian newspaper and saying, 'Wow, you won’t believe how the newspapers in Iran are denouncing Mossadegh.' Look what this article. And I couldn’t tell him I wrote that article.” – Narrator (09:13)
2. Recruiting the Clergy:
  - CIA payments to mullahs to denounce Mossadegh as irreligious from the pulpit (09:59).
3. Getting the Shah on Board:
  - Coercion, bribery, and clandestine meetings.
  - The Shah initially resists; methods escalate to bribing his sister (includes a fur coat) (10:41).
  - Roosevelt’s persistence finally induces the Shah’s cooperation: “Roosevelt managed to convince the Shah that Mossadegh was a threat. And so the Shah agreed to the coup.” (10:53–11:10)
4. Arrest Plan:
  - Attempt to arrest Mossadegh in the night and consolidate power for the Shah – ultimately, this first attempt fails (11:20).

3. The Roots: Oil, Colonial Influence, and Nationalization

British-Iranian Oil Arrangement:
- Iran discovered oil in 1908; British interests quickly dominated (12:01).
- One-sided contracts: Britain took 80%+ of the profits, Iran just about 10% (12:21).
  - “Great Britain was taking well over 80% of the revenues, while Iran was receiving about 10 to 12%...”
- Iran’s corrupt Qajar dynasty desperately sold off national assets to survive (12:42–12:59).
- The Anglo-Persian Oil Company (precursor to BP) becomes a central antagonist (13:25).
Mossadegh’s Push for Oil Nationalization:
- Broke off with Britain, emboldened oil nationalism, leading to his election as Prime Minister (13:40–14:16).

4. US Involvement and Cold War Context

Britain Calls for Help:
- Truman administration resists, but Eisenhower administration gives a green light amid Cold War anxieties (14:36–15:25).
- Proximity to the USSR and internal leftist parties in Iran raise US fears of communism (15:25–15:45).
- “All these factors... eventually convince the US to get on board with Britain’s plan... to stage a coup and overthrow Iran's Prime Minister, Mohammad Mossadegh.” – Narrator (16:09–16:16)

5. Second Coup Attempt: Chaos, Mob Tactics, and Success

Plan B in Action (28:39–31:38):
- On August 19, 1953, Roosevelt stirs up street violence, hiring criminals and gangs to masquerade as both Mossadegh supporters and detractors, inciting chaos (29:03–29:44).
  - “Roosevelt actually paid criminals and gang members… yelling, we love Mossadegh. We love Communism. And then he hired a second mob to attack the first mob... everyone involved was being paid by the same source, the CIA.” – Narrator (29:27–29:46)
- Mossadegh’s naive trust in peaceful demonstrations leaves him unguarded (30:05–30:16).
- The showdown at Mossadegh’s house: Military leaders (bribed by the CIA) attack, Mossadegh barely escapes but surrenders, and Zahedi is installed as the interim leader. The Shah returns to power (31:17–31:46).
- Mossadegh becomes a “taboo figure,” erased from public life, but cements his status as a symbol of lost Iranian potential (32:27).

6. Aftermath: Long-Term Impact on Iran & US-Iran Relations

The Shah’s Rule:
- Dictatorial regime, western alignment, suppression of Mossadegh’s legacy (31:46–32:09).
Consequences for Mossadegh and Supporters:
- Mossadegh sentenced to house arrest, close advisors executed, purge of military dissidents (32:40–33:11).
Resulting Grievances and the 1979 Revolution:
- Growing resentment and rise of religious fundamentalism.
- The 1979 Islamic Revolution and US Embassy hostage crisis trace their roots directly to this coup (34:15–35:05).

7. Rethinking the Narrative: Responsibility and Irony

Role of Iran’s Clergy:
- Historian and writer Roya Hakakian challenges the dominant Western narrative, noting the clergy’s instrumental, self-serving role in both 1953 and 1979 (36:12–37:30).
  - “The piece that’s missing... is the fact that Kermit Roosevelt decides very wisely, obviously, to go pay a visit to the Grand Ayatollah. And you know, history changes course after he does that.” – Roya Hakakian (36:40)
- The clergy opposed democracy, benefitted from foreign intervention, and then appropriated Mossadegh’s legacy to justify later power grabs (37:30).
Dueling Narratives:
- Iranians see 1953 as the “original sin,” while Americans focus on the 1979 hostage crisis (38:28–39:15).
- “U.S.-Iran relations begin and end with the hostage crisis. That’s the moment… From the Iranian perspective, things are very different... like parallel train tracks that just keep running parallel. They never coincide.” – Narrator (38:35–39:15)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Press Manipulation:
- “I would write an article about how Mossadegh was an atheist and he hated God. And then a couple of days later, a guy from the analysis division would run over… holding up an Iranian newspaper and saying, ‘Wow, you won’t believe how the newspapers in Iran are denouncing Mossadegh. Look what this article…’ And I couldn’t tell him I wrote that article.” – Narrator (09:13)
On Iranian Oil Politics:
- “Great Britain was taking well over 80% of the revenues, while Iran was receiving about 10 to 12% of the revenues from its own natural resource.” – Sonam Bakil (12:21)
On Mossadegh:
- “You get the feeling that this is a kind, fatherly person who cares about the people… for the first time that an Iranian politician would address them as ‘dear fellow citizen.’” – Dr. Ibrahim Norouzi (20:12)
On American Missionaries:
- “Just because I was born in America, that doesn’t mean I’m better than them. I’m like them, I’m gonna fight for them, for their cause. And this is a good cause.” – Dr. Norouzi, quoting Howard Baskerville (25:16)
On Mob Tactics:
- “Everybody involved... was being paid to be there. But what they didn’t know was they were being paid by the same source, the CIA.” – Narrator (29:44)
On Lingering Trauma:
- “You can still make the argument that the original sin of the U.S.-Iran relationship was what happened in August 1953 and that that set the tone for everything to follow.” – Ramtin Arablouei (38:19)
On Diverging Perspectives:
- “Iranian and American perceptions, they’re like parallel train tracks that just keep running parallel. They never coincide.” – Narrator (39:15)

Key Timestamps

00:23: Tehran, eve of coup—setting the stakes
07:10: Introduction of Kermit Roosevelt
08:25–11:20: Covert steps of the CIA plan
12:01–13:25: The roots of Britain’s oil interests in Iran
14:16: Mossadegh’s oil nationalization, British outrage
15:25: Cold War and rise of US involvement
28:39–31:38: Second coup attempt, street chaos, Mossadegh’s arrest
32:40: Mossadegh’s fate; fallout
35:05–37:30: 1979 Revolution, hostage crisis rationale, the enduring power of Mossadegh’s legacy
38:35: US and Iranian diverging historical memories

Conclusion

"Four Days in August" masterfully reconstructs the 1953 Iranian coup, highlighting the complexity of foreign intervention, the seductive power of oil, and the unintended consequences that echo through Iranian and global history. The show complicates the standard narrative, revealing layers of intrigue, resistance, and betrayal—while igniting empathy and curiosity about the origins of today’s US-Iranian tensions.

The episode is essential listening for anyone interested in US foreign policy, Middle Eastern history, and the power of historical memory to shape contemporary politics.

Throughline – "Four Days in August"

Episode Date: February 7, 2019
Hosts: Rund Abdelfattah & Ramtin Arablouei

Overview:

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Tehran, August 1953

Opening Sequence: The tension in Tehran on the eve of a coup as Mossadegh awaits his fate.
- “Elected Prime Minister of Iran, Mohammad Mosadegh was sitting at home waiting. He knew something was coming and he had no idea if he’d still be Prime Minister by morning.” – Rund Abdelfattah (00:31)
First Coup Attempt Fails
- Details of the initial failed military operation to oust Mossadegh.
- Mossadegh’s forces outmaneuver coup plotters by receiving an early warning (01:07).
- “When the soldiers arrived at Mossadegh’s house to arrest him, other soldiers jumped out of the woods and arrested those guys.” – Narrator (01:29)
Significance: Sets up the broader theme – this was just the beginning of foreign intervention and subterfuge that would alter Iran’s destiny (01:42).

2. Unpacking the CIA Coup Plan

Introduction to Kermit Roosevelt (CIA Chief orchestrating the coup)
- Well-connected, Ivy League, grandson of Theodore Roosevelt (07:10–07:35).
Covert Steps to Destabilization (08:25–11:20)
1. Seizing the Press:
  - Bribery and anti-Mossadegh propaganda.
  - CIA not only paid Iranian journalists, but even wrote fake stories themselves.
    - “I would write an article about how Mossadegh was an atheist and he hated God… a couple of days later, a guy from the analysis division would run over… holding up an Iranian newspaper and saying, 'Wow, you won’t believe how the newspapers in Iran are denouncing Mossadegh.' Look what this article. And I couldn’t tell him I wrote that article.” – Narrator (09:13)
2. Recruiting the Clergy:
  - CIA payments to mullahs to denounce Mossadegh as irreligious from the pulpit (09:59).
3. Getting the Shah on Board:
  - Coercion, bribery, and clandestine meetings.
  - The Shah initially resists; methods escalate to bribing his sister (includes a fur coat) (10:41).
  - Roosevelt’s persistence finally induces the Shah’s cooperation: “Roosevelt managed to convince the Shah that Mossadegh was a threat. And so the Shah agreed to the coup.” (10:53–11:10)
4. Arrest Plan:
  - Attempt to arrest Mossadegh in the night and consolidate power for the Shah – ultimately, this first attempt fails (11:20).

3. The Roots: Oil, Colonial Influence, and Nationalization

British-Iranian Oil Arrangement:
- Iran discovered oil in 1908; British interests quickly dominated (12:01).
- One-sided contracts: Britain took 80%+ of the profits, Iran just about 10% (12:21).
  - “Great Britain was taking well over 80% of the revenues, while Iran was receiving about 10 to 12%...”
- Iran’s corrupt Qajar dynasty desperately sold off national assets to survive (12:42–12:59).
- The Anglo-Persian Oil Company (precursor to BP) becomes a central antagonist (13:25).
Mossadegh’s Push for Oil Nationalization:
- Broke off with Britain, emboldened oil nationalism, leading to his election as Prime Minister (13:40–14:16).

4. US Involvement and Cold War Context

Britain Calls for Help:
- Truman administration resists, but Eisenhower administration gives a green light amid Cold War anxieties (14:36–15:25).
- Proximity to the USSR and internal leftist parties in Iran raise US fears of communism (15:25–15:45).
- “All these factors... eventually convince the US to get on board with Britain’s plan... to stage a coup and overthrow Iran's Prime Minister, Mohammad Mossadegh.” – Narrator (16:09–16:16)

5. Second Coup Attempt: Chaos, Mob Tactics, and Success

Plan B in Action (28:39–31:38):
- On August 19, 1953, Roosevelt stirs up street violence, hiring criminals and gangs to masquerade as both Mossadegh supporters and detractors, inciting chaos (29:03–29:44).
  - “Roosevelt actually paid criminals and gang members… yelling, we love Mossadegh. We love Communism. And then he hired a second mob to attack the first mob... everyone involved was being paid by the same source, the CIA.” – Narrator (29:27–29:46)
- Mossadegh’s naive trust in peaceful demonstrations leaves him unguarded (30:05–30:16).
- The showdown at Mossadegh’s house: Military leaders (bribed by the CIA) attack, Mossadegh barely escapes but surrenders, and Zahedi is installed as the interim leader. The Shah returns to power (31:17–31:46).
- Mossadegh becomes a “taboo figure,” erased from public life, but cements his status as a symbol of lost Iranian potential (32:27).

6. Aftermath: Long-Term Impact on Iran & US-Iran Relations

The Shah’s Rule:
- Dictatorial regime, western alignment, suppression of Mossadegh’s legacy (31:46–32:09).
Consequences for Mossadegh and Supporters:
- Mossadegh sentenced to house arrest, close advisors executed, purge of military dissidents (32:40–33:11).
Resulting Grievances and the 1979 Revolution:
- Growing resentment and rise of religious fundamentalism.
- The 1979 Islamic Revolution and US Embassy hostage crisis trace their roots directly to this coup (34:15–35:05).

7. Rethinking the Narrative: Responsibility and Irony

Role of Iran’s Clergy:
- Historian and writer Roya Hakakian challenges the dominant Western narrative, noting the clergy’s instrumental, self-serving role in both 1953 and 1979 (36:12–37:30).
  - “The piece that’s missing... is the fact that Kermit Roosevelt decides very wisely, obviously, to go pay a visit to the Grand Ayatollah. And you know, history changes course after he does that.” – Roya Hakakian (36:40)
- The clergy opposed democracy, benefitted from foreign intervention, and then appropriated Mossadegh’s legacy to justify later power grabs (37:30).
Dueling Narratives:
- Iranians see 1953 as the “original sin,” while Americans focus on the 1979 hostage crisis (38:28–39:15).
- “U.S.-Iran relations begin and end with the hostage crisis. That’s the moment… From the Iranian perspective, things are very different... like parallel train tracks that just keep running parallel. They never coincide.” – Narrator (38:35–39:15)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Press Manipulation:
- “I would write an article about how Mossadegh was an atheist and he hated God. And then a couple of days later, a guy from the analysis division would run over… holding up an Iranian newspaper and saying, ‘Wow, you won’t believe how the newspapers in Iran are denouncing Mossadegh. Look what this article…’ And I couldn’t tell him I wrote that article.” – Narrator (09:13)
On Iranian Oil Politics:
- “Great Britain was taking well over 80% of the revenues, while Iran was receiving about 10 to 12% of the revenues from its own natural resource.” – Sonam Bakil (12:21)
On Mossadegh:
- “You get the feeling that this is a kind, fatherly person who cares about the people… for the first time that an Iranian politician would address them as ‘dear fellow citizen.’” – Dr. Ibrahim Norouzi (20:12)
On American Missionaries:
- “Just because I was born in America, that doesn’t mean I’m better than them. I’m like them, I’m gonna fight for them, for their cause. And this is a good cause.” – Dr. Norouzi, quoting Howard Baskerville (25:16)
On Mob Tactics:
- “Everybody involved... was being paid to be there. But what they didn’t know was they were being paid by the same source, the CIA.” – Narrator (29:44)
On Lingering Trauma:
- “You can still make the argument that the original sin of the U.S.-Iran relationship was what happened in August 1953 and that that set the tone for everything to follow.” – Ramtin Arablouei (38:19)
On Diverging Perspectives:
- “Iranian and American perceptions, they’re like parallel train tracks that just keep running parallel. They never coincide.” – Narrator (39:15)

Key Timestamps

00:23: Tehran, eve of coup—setting the stakes
07:10: Introduction of Kermit Roosevelt
08:25–11:20: Covert steps of the CIA plan
12:01–13:25: The roots of Britain’s oil interests in Iran
14:16: Mossadegh’s oil nationalization, British outrage
15:25: Cold War and rise of US involvement
28:39–31:38: Second coup attempt, street chaos, Mossadegh’s arrest
32:40: Mossadegh’s fate; fallout
35:05–37:30: 1979 Revolution, hostage crisis rationale, the enduring power of Mossadegh’s legacy
38:35: US and Iranian diverging historical memories

Conclusion

The episode is essential listening for anyone interested in US foreign policy, Middle Eastern history, and the power of historical memory to shape contemporary politics.

wavePod

Four Days in August

Summary

Throughline – "Four Days in August"

Episode Date: February 7, 2019
Hosts: Rund Abdelfattah & Ramtin Arablouei

Overview:

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Tehran, August 1953

2. Unpacking the CIA Coup Plan

3. The Roots: Oil, Colonial Influence, and Nationalization

4. US Involvement and Cold War Context

5. Second Coup Attempt: Chaos, Mob Tactics, and Success

6. Aftermath: Long-Term Impact on Iran & US-Iran Relations

7. Rethinking the Narrative: Responsibility and Irony

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Key Timestamps

Conclusion

Transcript

Summary

Throughline – "Four Days in August"

Episode Date: February 7, 2019
Hosts: Rund Abdelfattah & Ramtin Arablouei

Overview:

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Tehran, August 1953

2. Unpacking the CIA Coup Plan

3. The Roots: Oil, Colonial Influence, and Nationalization

4. US Involvement and Cold War Context

5. Second Coup Attempt: Chaos, Mob Tactics, and Success

6. Aftermath: Long-Term Impact on Iran & US-Iran Relations

7. Rethinking the Narrative: Responsibility and Irony

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Key Timestamps

Conclusion

Four Days in August

Summary

Throughline – "Four Days in August"

Episode Date: February 7, 2019 Hosts: Rund Abdelfattah & Ramtin Arablouei

Overview:

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Tehran, August 1953

2. Unpacking the CIA Coup Plan

3. The Roots: Oil, Colonial Influence, and Nationalization

4. US Involvement and Cold War Context

5. Second Coup Attempt: Chaos, Mob Tactics, and Success

6. Aftermath: Long-Term Impact on Iran & US-Iran Relations

7. Rethinking the Narrative: Responsibility and Irony

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Key Timestamps

Conclusion

Transcript

Summary

Throughline – "Four Days in August"

Episode Date: February 7, 2019 Hosts: Rund Abdelfattah & Ramtin Arablouei

Overview:

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Tehran, August 1953

2. Unpacking the CIA Coup Plan

3. The Roots: Oil, Colonial Influence, and Nationalization

4. US Involvement and Cold War Context

5. Second Coup Attempt: Chaos, Mob Tactics, and Success

6. Aftermath: Long-Term Impact on Iran & US-Iran Relations

7. Rethinking the Narrative: Responsibility and Irony

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Key Timestamps

Conclusion

Episode Date: February 7, 2019
Hosts: Rund Abdelfattah & Ramtin Arablouei

Episode Date: February 7, 2019
Hosts: Rund Abdelfattah & Ramtin Arablouei