'Mossadeq's Spy Service' (CIA-prepared propaganda text, Iran, 1953)
A one-page English typescript written in the first person plural as if by ordinary Iranians ('many of us remember...'), accusing Prime Minister Mossadeq of running a private spy service against his own allies. It lists the homes, parties and newspapers said to be watched to build a 'dictatorship' reading, and labels the Qashqai khans 'murderous'; nothing on the page names its author.
- Date
- 1953
- Period
- Cold War
- Made by
- U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (unattributed text prepared for placement in Iranian media, summer 1953)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Document
- Issuer type
- Intelligence
- Regime
- Eisenhower Administration
- Leader
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
- Audience
- Foreign public
- Purpose
- Demonize
- Themes
- Elections and party politics, Security and surveillance
- Event
- 1953 Iranian Coup
- Techniques
- Card stackingName-calling
- Source
- Impersonated Source falsified: fake personas, outlets or documents
- Source
- National Security Archive, George Washington University (CIA record released 2011), retrieved September 29, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work; CIA document released 21 June 2011)
U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, via the National Security Archive, Electronic Briefing Book no. 435, Document 21.
Text on the object
C01384520 [document number, top left] 230 [handwritten] MOSSADEQ'S SPY SERVICE Mossadeq says he is the savior of Iran, but he does strange things for a savior. Mossadeq says he wants to save Iran from the army and he has cut down the funds for the army and has stirred hatred among the officers and men. But many of us remember what it was like in Iran before we had an army. Many of us remember the raiding and pillaging of the tribes. Many of us remember the burned villages, the stolen goods, the disruptions to trade and travel. We would like to ask Mossadeq how he will save Iran from the tribes without an army. We imagine he will ask his good friends, the murderous Qashqai Khans, to protect us. Mossadeq says he will save Iran from the landowners. However, he has received large sums from landowners such as the Aminis. We too want to save Iran from the landowners but we wondered what Mossadeq does with this money. Does he use it to help our farmers buy their own land? No! Mossadeq uses this money to build up his private spy service. And does he spy against the Soviet Tudeh Party that tried to rob Iran of Azerbaijan? No! He spies against his friends who helped bring that national movement into power and who helped Iran regain its oil. Mossadeq's spies are protecting Iran by watching the homes of Hakimi, Shayegan, Maki, Dr. Baghai, Haerizadeh and Shams Qanatabadi. They are protecting Islam by watching the homes of Ayatollah Kashani, Ayatollah Behbehani, Mullah Hasan Falsafi, Navab Safavi and the Masjid-i-Shah. They are guarding against Bolshevism by watching the headquarters of the Iran Party, the Third Force, The Sumka Party, and the Arya Party. They protect us from enemy propaganda by spying on the newspapers Tehran-i-Mossavar, Jebheh Azad, Kayhan, and Mard-i-Asia. They are safeguarding our army by watching the Officers Club, the Retired Officers Club, and the house of General Riahi. Is this the way you save Iran, Mossadeq? We know what you want to save. You want to save Mossadeq's dictatorship in Iran! [stamp: APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 21 JUN 2011] [stamp: CLASSIFICATION REVIEW EO 12065 CONDUCTED ON / DERIVATIVE CL BY / DECL / DOWNGR TO / REV ON / DERIVED FROM, fields left blank]
English original; no translation needed. Spelling and punctuation are as typed, including 'Mossadeq'.
