Transcript
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Support for NPR and the following message come from Warby Parker, the One stop shop for all your vision needs. They offer expertly crafted prescription eyewear plus contacts, eye exams and more. For everything you need to see, visit your nearest Warby Parker store or head
Rund Abdelfattah (0:16)
to warbyparker.com August 15, 1953.
Ramtin Arablouei (0:23)
Shortly before midnight in Tehran, Iran's capital city, the air was thick with anticipation. Something big was about to happen.
Rund Abdelfattah (0:31)
Elected Prime Minister of Iran, Mohammad Mosadel was sitting at home waiting. He knew something was coming and he
Ramtin Arablouei (0:39)
had no idea if he'd still be Prime Minister by morning.
Rund Abdelfattah (0:42)
So with each tick, tick, tick of the clock, he knew that the future of Iran was at stake.
Narrator/Storyteller (0:50)
One truckload of presidential guard soldiers were going to Mosaddegh's house at midnight.
Rund Abdelfattah (0:55)
Their mission was simple.
Narrator/Storyteller (0:56)
Go to Mosaddegh's house in the middle
Ramtin Arablouei (0:58)
of the night, knock on the door,
Rund Abdelfattah (0:59)
tell him he's fired.
Narrator/Storyteller (1:00)
Mosaddegh would then protest, undoubtedly, and say, you can't fire me. I'm elected.
Ramtin Arablouei (1:04)
And at that point you would arrest him.
Sonam Bakil (1:07)
That failed because Mossadegh found out about the arrest.
Narrator/Storyteller (1:11)
News of it leaked out.
Sonam Bakil (1:13)
Then there was a bit of panic among the army that was supposed to come out and support the arrest of Mosaddegh. The phone lines were supposed to be cut. They were not cut. So there were a number of missteps that took place.
Narrator/Storyteller (1:29)
And when the soldiers arrived at Mosaddegh's house to arrest him, other soldiers jumped out of the woods and arrested those guys.
