A Soviet View on the Assassination of the Iranian Prime Minister, Haj ʻAli Razmara, in the Context of the Early Years of the Cold War

Abstract Using Soviet foreign ministry documents found in the Russian State Archive of Socio-Political History, this article seeks to shed a new light on identity those behind assassination Haj ʻAli Razmara 1951, and reasons for it. In seeking power back his aspirations become ruler Iran, hopped between USSR United States, finally gambling USSR. spite this, States was not hurry get rid him; instead, they preferred use Shah's fear secure former's cooperation extract from him what wanted, especially oil concessions Iran. However, by then Iran already marching rapidly toward nationalization, which opposed grounds that should be produced Iranians. This unacceptable Americans, who, according sources, decided during early stages Cold War.