After the Countercoup: Advising the Imperial Armed Forces of Iran

摘要

Iran in the 1950s was in the cross hairs of the Cold War power struggle between the United States and the USSR. Strategically located, Iran became critical to the foreign policy endeavors of the Eisenhower Administration in the Middle East. After the decision to force Mohammed Mossadeq to retire as Prime Minister, the United States gave more than $700 million in mutual security assistance to the Shah of Iran from 1953-1959. In addition to the money, the United States faced the challenge of transitioning the Iranian Armed Forces from an organization used by Iranian monarchs to quell unrest in the major population centers into a collective security partner with a trained and equipped military that could fight a defensive campaign against a possible Soviet invasion. A Military Assistance Advisory Group was created and advisory efforts began. Iranian history, international rivalries, and the strategic constraints of continuous interference from policy makers in Washington and the Shah's embellished interests for Iran weighed heavily on the effort. This case study discusses the strategic context of Iran in the 1950s, the national-level deliberations regarding the importance of Iran and the amount of assistance it required from the United States, and whether or not the USSR was deterred from intervening in Iran due to the United States' demonstrable commitment there. The case study attempts to inform future policy makers as to the roles and organizations necessary to conduct foreign internal defense and advise the militaries of allied nations. Success or failure at advisory operations can have strategic consequences.