How a military officer orchestrated the 1953 coup that reshaped Iran's political landscape

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Fazlollah Zahedi was a central figure in the 1953 overthrow of Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddeq. Backed by foreign intelligence agencies and appointed by the Shah, Zahedi transitioned from a military governor to the head of government, ultimately securing the Shah's return to power before being pushed into a diplomatic exile.

Fazlollah Zahedi was a career military officer who rose through the ranks of the Persian Cossack Brigade. His early service included suppressing regional autonomy movements in Khūzestān and western Iran. By the 1940s, his career faced significant turbulence; British authorities interned him in Palestine during World War II, suspecting him of collaborating with German forces. Upon his return to Iran in 1945, he resumed his ascent, serving as chief of police in Tehrān and eventually joining the senate.

The political crisis of the early 1950s brought Zahedi into direct conflict with Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddeq. While Zahedi initially served as minister of the interior in Mosaddeq's cabinet, their relationship fractured over policy disagreements. By 1952, the prime minister accused Zahedi of plotting a coup. As tensions between the government and the monarchy escalated, the Shah fled the country in August 1953. Before departing, the Shah signed a decree appointing Zahedi as the new prime minister, a move supported by representatives of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.

On August 19, 1953, forces aligned with Zahedi successfully overthrew the government of Mosaddeq. This action facilitated the return of the Shah, who had been in exile. Zahedi served as prime minister until 1955, when the Shah, wary of his influence, removed him from domestic power. Zahedi was subsequently sent to Switzerland to serve as an ambassador at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, where he remained until his death in 1963.

The 1953 transition remains a significant event in Iranian history, marking the end of Mosaddeq's administration and the consolidation of the Shah's direct rule. Zahedi's role was pivotal, as he provided the military and political leadership necessary to execute the change in government. His career illustrates the complex intersections of military authority, foreign influence, and internal power struggles that defined mid-20th-century Iranian politics.

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