In the early 1950s, Iranian oil became a firebomb of the Cold War in the Middle East, creating one of the era's two major hot spots alongside Korea.This book examines the dramatic events surrounding Mohammad Mossadegh whose government unanimously passed legislation nationalizing the Iranian oil industry, triggering the first oil crisis of the Cold War.

Drawing on newly declassified archival documents from the former Soviet Union, CIA, British special services, and Turkish diplomatic archives, the volume highlights the fierce struggle between the USSR and Anglo-American allies for the influence of Iran. The book chronicles Mossadegh's rise to power, his stance against Western interests, and the complex Cold War machinations that ultimately led to his government's overthrow in August 1953.

The Iranian Oil Crisis and Mossadegh in the Cold War, 1949-1953 will be beneficial to students and scholars in the field History, International Relations, Cold War History, Political Science and Humanities interested in and/or working on Iran History.