Operation BOOT

Operation BOOT was the codename for the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) component of the Iranian 1953 coup in Iran that removed Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh from power. It operated in parallel with the American-led Operation AJAX and formed the British half of the coordinated Anglo‑American effort to restore Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and reassert Western influence over Iran’s oil industry.

Background

Britain’s interest in Iran centered on the Anglo‑Iranian Oil Company (AIOC), which controlled Iran’s petroleum production throughout the early 20th century. In 1951, Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh nationalized the oil industry, arguing that Iran should receive fair compensation and sovereign control over its resources. The British government responded with economic pressure, legal challenges, and covert planning to remove Mossadegh.

British Objectives

MI6 developed Operation BOOT with several goals:

• Reverse the nationalization of the oil industry
• Restore the Shah’s authority
• Prevent perceived Soviet influence in Iran
• Protect British strategic and economic interests in the Middle East

The British government viewed Mossadegh’s policies as destabilizing and feared that prolonged crisis could weaken Iran’s monarchy.

Planning and Coordination with the CIA

Britain initially attempted to carry out the coup independently, but political constraints and limited access inside Iran hindered progress. MI6 then sought American cooperation. When the United States agreed to participate, the CIA launched Operation AJAX, and the two services coordinated their plans.

Key British contributions included:

• Intelligence networks inside Iran
• Propaganda operations targeting Mossadegh
• Support for pro‑Shah political factions
• Liaison with Iranian military officers
• Strategic planning alongside CIA officer Kermit Roosevelt Jr.

Operation BOOT and Operation AJAX were separate codenames but functioned as a unified Anglo‑American effort.

Execution

In August 1953, the Shah issued a royal decree dismissing Mossadegh and appointing General Fazlollah Zahedi as prime minister. [[Mossadegh refused to accept the decree, leading to several days of unrest. MI6 assets helped organize demonstrations, influence public opinion, and support military units aligned with the Shah.

The combined pressure of British and American covert action ultimately resulted in Mossadegh’s arrest and Zahedi’s installation as prime minister.

Aftermath

Operation BOOT achieved Britain’s immediate objectives:

• The Shah’s authority was restored
• Western access to Iranian oil was re‑established through a new consortium
• British influence in Iran temporarily strengthened

However, the coup had long‑term consequences. Iranian resentment toward foreign intervention grew, contributing to political instability and shaping the conditions that led to the [[Iranian Revolution (1979).

Legacy

Operation BOOT is significant for:

• Its role in one of the most famous Cold War regime‑change operations
• Demonstrating Anglo‑American cooperation in covert action
• Influencing decades of Iranian distrust toward Western governments
• Highlighting the geopolitical importance of oil during the mid‑20th century

Together with Operation AJAX, Operation BOOT remains a central case study in Cold War intelligence history.

See Also

• Operation AJAX
• Mohammad Mossadegh
• Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
• MI6
• CIA
• Anglo-Iranian Oil Company
• Cold War