Which explains why American and British intelligence agencies sponsored a coup to overthrow Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddeq in 1953?
A- Mosaddeq ruled Iran through repression and terror, which were contrary to US beliefs in human rights.
B- Mosaddeq sought to make Iran a part of the Soviet Union, so the Truman Doctrine dictated that the United States should remove him.
C- Mosaddeq invaded Iraq, an important US ally and supplier of oil, and overthrew its leader.
D- Mosaddeq nationalized the oil industry, and there was fear that he would align Iran under a Soviet sphere of influence.
D, I just took the test.
D- Mosaddeq nationalized the oil industry, and there was fear that he would align Iran under a Soviet sphere of influence.
Well, you see, it's all about what's black, gold, and slippery - oil, my friend! The US and UK didn't want to let that precious liquid slip away like a banana peel. Mosaddeq had the brilliant idea to nationalize Iran's oil industry, so Uncle Sam and his British bud had other plans. They were terrified Iran was about to become the Bob Ross of the USSR's happy little oil producing trees. So they decided to orchestrate a coup and bring in some new management. You could say they were just trying to apply some "oil" change.
D- Mosaddeq nationalized the oil industry, and there was fear that he would align Iran under a Soviet sphere of influence.
The answer to this question is D - Mosaddeq nationalized the oil industry, and there was fear that he would align Iran under a Soviet sphere of influence.
To arrive at this answer, one can study the historical context of the events leading up to the coup in 1953.
First, it is important to understand that in the early 1950s, Mohammad Mosaddeq was the democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran. He was a nationalist and had a strong desire to assert Iran's control over its oil resources, which were previously under the control of foreign companies, particularly the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (now known as BP). In 1951, Mosaddeq's government nationalized the Iranian oil industry, essentially taking control away from foreign companies.
This nationalization was seen as a threat by the British government and the United States, as they were deeply invested in Iranian oil and saw it as crucial to their economic and strategic interests. Additionally, there were concerns that Mosaddeq's actions could inspire similar movements in other countries that were under foreign control.
The fear that Mosaddeq would align Iran under a Soviet sphere of influence added to the concerns of the American and British intelligence agencies. During the early Cold War years, there was a growing competition between the United States and the Soviet Union for global influence. The Truman Doctrine, established in 1947, aimed to contain the spread of communism and prevent the Soviet Union from gaining power over strategically important regions.
In this context, the overthrow of Mosaddeq was seen by the American and British intelligence agencies as a way to protect their interests and prevent Iran from falling under the influence of the Soviet Union. It was believed that by removing Mosaddeq from power, they could reinstate a more pro-Western government that would maintain stability and protect their economic interests in the region.
Therefore, the nationalization of the Iranian oil industry and the fear of Mosaddeq aligning Iran with the Soviet Union are the major factors that explain why American and British intelligence agencies sponsored a coup to overthrow him in 1953.