One reads and hears so many times that Iran was on the path to democracy until a CIA coup installed the Shah in 1953.  It turns out that account is quite wrong, as is detailed by Simon Sebag Montefiore:

As his support in the Majlis ebbed, Mosaddegh demanded autocratic powers.  Both the shah and Majlis refused.  On 16 July 1952, Mosaddegh resigned and the shah appointed the ‘Old Fox’ Qavam…On 21 July, five days later [after a shooting], the mobs forced Mosaddegh’s reinstatement.

…Mosaddegh had not been able to resist the temptation of supreme power.  His attempt to undermine the monarchy by getting control of the army and to declaw the army by purging officers and making budget cuts had offended supporters of both.  The demeaning of the monarchy, secular policies and prosecution of Fadayan assassins had offended the clergy.  His moves to bypass the democratically elected parliament by taking plenary powers outraged liberals and democrats.  Alienating all of them, Mosaddegh quickly lost control, languishing, pyjama-clad and close to nervous breakdown, in his residence.

…When the police chief was assassinated, Mosaddegh ordered mass arrests that led to Malija members flooring a vote of no conffidence.  The once idealistic premier, resorting to authoritarian measures, called a faked plebiscite [with no secret ballot the results were 2 million yes, 1,207 no] to dismiss parliament and huge demonstrations to support him by the communists.

So it was one bad guy succeeding another.  Montefiore also argues that what brought down Mossadegh was a second Iranian coup, not the initial coup attempt organized by the CIA.

That is all from the new and excellent The Cauldron: The Making of the Modern Middle East.

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