Western Interference in Iran

 Western Interference in Iran: From Colonial Influence to Modern Exploitation

While Iran was never formally colonized like India or Congo, it faced heavy Western exploitation, coups, and economic domination—especially by Britain, Russia, and later the U.S. Here’s how foreign powers manipulated Iran for oil, power, and geopolitical control.

  1. The Era of “Informal Colonization” (19th–Early 20th Century)
  2. British & Russian “Great Game” Rivalry

– Britain wanted Iran as a buffer zone to protect British India from Russia.

– Russia seized Iranian land in the Caucasus (Treaty of Turkmenchay, 1828).

– Economic control: Both powers forced unequal treaties, taking over trade and resources.

  1. The Tobacco Protest (1891–1892)

– Britain’s monopoly on Iran’s tobacco sparked mass protests.

– First modern revolt against Western exploitation—forced the Shah to cancel the deal.

  1. The British Oil Empire (1908–1951)
  2. Discovery of Oil & the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC)

– 1908: British geologists struck oil in Masjed Soleiman.

– APOC (later BP) took 85% of profits, leaving Iran with scraps.

  1. World War I & Reza Shah’s Rise

– Britain occupied Iran (1914–1918) to secure oil for its navy.

– 1921 Coup: Britain backed Reza Shah Pahlavi to counter Russian influence.

  1. The 1953 CIA Coup: The Ultimate Colonial Act
  2. Mossadegh’s Nationalization of Oil (1951)

– PM Mohammad Mossadegh seized APOC’s assets, demanding fair oil profits.

– Britain retaliated with sanctions and plotted a coup with the CIA.

  1. Operation Ajax (1953)

– CIA & MI6 bribed generals, media, and mobs to overthrow Mossadegh.

– Reinstated the Shah (Mohammad Reza Pahlavi) as a Western puppet.

  1. Aftermath: A Dictatorship for Oil
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– The Shah gave U.S. & British firms 40% of Iran’s oil.

– SAVAK (secret police) tortured dissidents with CIA training.

  1. The 1979 Revolution & End of Western Control

– Iranians overthrew the Shah due to his brutality & Western ties.

– The U.S. hostage crisis (1979–1981) ended diplomatic relations.

– Sanctions & isolation followed—but Iran broke free from direct Western economic control.

  1. Modern Exploitation: Sanctions & Hybrid Colonialism

– U.S. sanctions cripple Iran’s economy—yet European firms still buy Iranian oil secretly.

– Cyber warfare & regime-change efforts continue (Stuxnet, protests).

Key Question: Was Iran Colonized?

– No formal colonization, but economic, military, and political control by foreign powers.

– 1953 coup was a defining colonial-style intervention.

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