Throughline: Iran and the U.S., Part One

Host: Rund Abdelfattah & Ramtin Arablouei
Release Date: June 24, 2025
NPR's Throughline delves into the intricate historical relationship between Iran and the United States, focusing on the pivotal events of the 1953 coup that overthrew Iran's democratically elected Prime Minister, Mohammad Mosaddegh. Hosted by Rund Abdelfattah and Ramtin Arablouei, this episode dissects the origins and ramifications of one of the most consequential moments in Middle Eastern history.

1. The Prelude to the Coup

The episode opens with Rund Abdelfattah setting the stage for the 1953 coup attempt. As tensions between the U.S. and Iran simmer, the hosts rewind to August 15, 1953, a night fraught with uncertainty for Prime Minister Mosaddegh.

Rund Abdelfattah [00:20]: "We're all watching the current conflict between the United States and Iran. And it got us thinking about the origins of the incredibly complex relationship between these two countries."

Mosaddegh, aware of the looming threat, awaited the arrival of the Presidential Guard soldiers poised to arrest him, unaware of the broader geopolitical maneuvers at play.

Stephen Kinzer [01:00]: "One truckload of Presidential Guard soldiers were going to Mossadegh's house at midnight."

However, the initial attempt failed due to leaks and missteps, allowing Mosaddegh to evade arrest and remain in power temporarily.

2. The Strategic Maneuvers Behind the Coup

The narrative shifts to Kermit Roosevelt, the CIA operative tasked with orchestrating the coup. Born into a lineage of American privilege, Roosevelt embodied the early CIA's elitist ethos.

Sanam Baki [07:12]: "Kermit Roosevelt was chief of the CIA's Near East and Africa division."

Roosevelt's strategy unfolded in meticulously planned steps:

• Control the Media: Roosevelt bribed Iranian journalists to disseminate anti-Mosaddegh propaganda, painting him as a threat to national stability.

  Rund Abdelfattah [08:39]: "Even though the CIA had devised a plan for Roosevelt, no one was sure it would actually work."

• Mobilize Clergy Support: Financial incentives were provided to influential mullahs to denounce Mosaddegh from the pulpit, leveraging religious authority to sway public opinion.

  Stephen Kinzer [10:01]: "Mossadegh was a Jew, a homosexual, a British agent. Anything that they thought would outrage people."

• Leverage the Shah's Influence: Despite initial resistance, Roosevelt ingeniously persuaded Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi through clandestine midnight meetings, eventually securing his support for the coup.

  Rund Abdelfattah [10:44]: "Roosevelt saw an opening to turn them [Shah and Prime Minister] against each other."

3. The Failed Initial Coup and the Emergence of Plan B

On August 16, 1953, Roosevelt and his agents celebrated what they believed was a successful coup. However, reality shattered their optimism when they discovered that Mosaddegh had outmaneuvered them.

Dr. Ibrahim Noruzi [06:15]: "They call you Lady Luck."

This failure set the stage for a more aggressive second attempt. Roosevelt, undeterred by the initial setback, devised a Plan B that would ultimately change the course of Iranian history.

4. The Second Coup: Chaos and Consolidation

By August 19, 1953, Roosevelt initiated a second, more violent phase of the coup. Utilizing a duplicitous strategy, the CIA orchestrated simultaneous attacks by different mobs to create chaos and paint Mosaddegh as the instigator.

Stephen Kinzer [29:30]: "Kermit Roosevelt had not given up and was actually having a plan B."

The meticulously coordinated violence overwhelmed Iranian defenses, leading to Mosaddegh's eventual arrest and the installation of General Zahedi as a puppet leader, paving the way for the Shah’s return.

Stephen Kinzer [31:14]: "They got him over a fence, he fled, the house was looted... proclaimed himself as new leader of Iran."

5. Aftermath: The Shah's Authoritarian Rule and Suppression of Mossadegh

With the coup's success, the Shah established a dictatorial regime that lasted 25 years, suppressing any remnants of Mosaddegh's democratic legacy.

Rund Abdelfattah [32:16]: "The Shah then ruled over Iran like a dictator for 25 years."

Mosaddegh himself faced imprisonment and eventual house arrest, with his legacy obscured under the Shah's oppressive rule.

6. The Roots of Modern Tensions

The episode concludes by linking the 1953 coup to the 1979 Iranian Revolution, highlighting how historical grievances fueled longstanding animosities between Iran and the U.S.

Kermit Roosevelt [35:07]: "In 1979, the 1953 coup was invoked as justification for seizing the American Embassy."

Roya Hakakian, a scholar and personal witness to Iran's turmoil, challenges the oversimplified narrative that solely blames U.S. intervention, emphasizing the significant role of Iran's clergy in shaping the nation’s trajectory.

Rund Abdelfattah [36:57]: "It's a mistake to put all the blame for Iran's problems on the US intervention in 1953 that the Iranian clergy have played a part too."

7. Personal Perspectives and Legacy

Through the voices of Ramtin Arablouei and Dr. Ibrahim Noruzi, the episode humanizes Mosaddegh, portraying him as a beloved national hero whose vision for Iran was brutally curtailed.

Roya Hakakian [21:01]: "I'm a retired physician... I wanted some sort of justice in the world."

Mossadegh's enduring legacy continues to influence Iran's political landscape, symbolizing both democratic aspirations and the repercussions of foreign interference.

Key Takeaways

• The 1953 coup was a meticulously planned CIA operation led by Kermit Roosevelt to overthrow Iran's Prime Minister, Mohammad Mosaddegh, primarily driven by geopolitical and economic interests surrounding Iranian oil.
• Initial coup attempts failed, leading to more aggressive strategies that ultimately resulted in the Shah's authoritarian rule.
• The legacy of the coup planted seeds of distrust and tension that culminated in the 1979 Iranian Revolution and the subsequent hostage crisis, shaping the enduring fraught relationship between Iran and the United States.
• The episode underscores the complexity of historical narratives, highlighting both external interventions and internal power dynamics as pivotal factors in Iran's political evolution.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Rund Abdelfattah [00:20]: "We're all watching the current conflict between the United States and Iran. And it got us thinking about the origins of the incredibly complex relationship between these two countries."
• Stephen Kinzer [01:00]: "One truckload of Presidential Guard soldiers were going to Mossadegh's house at midnight."
• Ramtin Arablouei [03:09]: "I definitely heard stuff about it, especially from my father who would remind me all the time..."
• Rund Abdelfattah [08:39]: "Even though the CIA had devised a plan for Roosevelt, no one was sure it would actually work."
• Stephen Kinzer [10:01]: "Mossadegh was a Jew, a homosexual, a British agent. Anything that they thought would outrage people."
• Stephen Kinzer [29:30]: "Kermit Roosevelt had not given up and was actually having a plan B."
• Rund Abdelfattah [32:16]: "The Shah then ruled over Iran like a dictator for 25 years."
• Kermit Roosevelt [35:07]: "In 1979, the 1953 coup was invoked as justification for seizing the American Embassy."
• Rund Abdelfattah [36:57]: "It's a mistake to put all the blame for Iran's problems on the US intervention in 1953 that the Iranian clergy have played a part too."
• Roya Hakakian [21:01]: "I wanted some sort of justice in the world."

This comprehensive exploration by Throughline not only recounts historical events but also invites listeners to reflect on the lasting impacts of political interventions and the intricate web of factors that shape international relations.