CIA Confirms Its Role in the 1953 Iran Coup as Being Undemocratic; Sheds Light on ‘Argo’ Operation

In a recent unveiling of details surrounding the renowned CIA mission to rescue six American diplomats during the 1979 U.S. Embassy takeover in Iran, the agency made an unprecedented admission. For the first time, the CIA formally recognized its support of the 1953 coup in Iran, which led to the ousting of the prime minister and fortified Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s reign, as undemocratic.

While some U.S. officials have hinted at this in the past, this official acknowledgment from the CIA was made during a podcast on the agency’s historical undertakings. This revelation comes at a time when a comprehensive official account of the coup remains classified, 70 years post-event. This has made it challenging for the public to gain a full understanding of the event, which continues to influence current U.S.-Iran tensions, especially in light of Iran’s escalating nuclear ambitions, its support for militia groups in the Middle East, and its repression of dissent.

In a statement to The Big Big News, the CIA articulated its dedication to transparency, emphasizing the significance of presenting the historical backdrop and the agency’s role in these events.

However, Iran’s UN mission remarked that the 1953 coup signified the beginning of continuous American interference in Iran’s domestic matters. They contended that the U.S.’ acknowledgment has not led to any restorative action or tangible commitment to non-interference in the future.

The CIA’s podcast, titled “The Langley Files”, recently featured the story of the six diplomats’ evasion. They were concealed at the Canadian ambassador’s residence in Iran until a two-member CIA team assisted their departure from the country, under the guise of scouting for a fictitious sci-fi movie. This operation was later adapted into the Oscar-winning film “Argo”, starring Ben Affleck. In the podcast, the second CIA officer, previously known by the alias “Julio”, was identified as Ed Johnson, an agency linguist and exfiltration expert.

The podcast also briefly delved into the 1953 coup, with CIA spokesman Walter Trosin noting that while many of the agency’s clandestine activities supported democratically elected governments, the 1953 coup was a notable exception.

The repercussions of the 1953 coup continue to be a topic of debate among Iranians, historians, and other experts. Iran’s state television frequently discusses its consequences, drawing parallels between the coup and the 1979 Islamic Revolution, reinforcing the prevalent anti-American sentiment.

From the American perspective, the CIA’s involvement in the coup was initially hailed as a Cold War espionage triumph. However, subsequent examinations have questioned the extent of the agency’s influence. This event set a precedent for the CIA’s involvement in subsequent coups, like the one in Guatemala in 1954, leading to prolonged conflict.

The 1953 coup in Iran has been acknowledged by various U.S. officials in the past, including then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in 2000 and President Barack Obama in 2009. However, the CIA had largely refrained from commenting. Despite the release of several U.S. historical documents, crucial parts of the CIA’s internal evaluation of the coup remain concealed. This, coupled with the agency’s confession that many files concerning the 1953 coup were probably destroyed in the 1960s, makes a complete historical account elusive.

Malcolm Byrne from the National Security Archive stated that many aspects of the coup operation are yet to be fully declassified. He highlighted the importance of full disclosure to prevent the proliferation of myths surrounding the U.S. involvement.

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More about fokus keyword: CIA 1953 Iran Coup

• CIA’s Admission on 1953 Iran Coup
• The 1979 U.S. Embassy Seizure in Iran
• The Legacy of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
• “Argo” – The Film’s Take on the Operation
• U.S.-Iran Relations Post-1953 Coup
• The CIA’s Historical Undertakings Podcast – “The Langley Files”
• Historical Review of the 1953 Iran Coup
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