The Trial of Mohammad Mossadegh

The military tribunal of Mohammad Mossadegh, which commenced in late 1953, was a landmark event in the history of modern Iran. It was more than a legal proceeding; it was a political spectacle intended to legitimize the newly restored power of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and erase the legacy of the popular, democratically elected Prime Minister. The trial followed the CIA and MI6-orchestrated coup that overthrew Mossadegh’s government, an event that put a violent end to the Iranian nationalist movement he had led. The courtroom became a stage where the old premier, famous for his defiance and theatricality, faced a regime that sought to punish him not for a crime, but for a cause.