Mohammad Mosaddegh · "They [the British] think they can buy anything with money. But they cannot buy..."

Public statement during the Abadan Crisis, 1951, as British warships blockaded Iranian ports. · Gecheckt op 2 maart 2026

They [the British] think they can buy anything with money. But they cannot buy the Iranian people.

Analyse

The quote aligns with Mosaddegh’s documented rhetoric during the crisis, emphasizing Iran’s sovereignty and resistance to British colonial influence. Multiple historical accounts, including speeches and memoirs, confirm his use of similar language, though slight variations in phrasing exist. The core sentiment—rejecting British financial and political coercion—is consistently attributed to him. No credible sources dispute the authenticity of the statement’s essence, even if exact wording may vary in translations or reports.

Achtergrond

The Abadan Crisis (1951–1954) erupted after Iran nationalized its oil industry, led by Prime Minister Mosaddegh, which directly challenged British control via the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC). In response, Britain imposed an embargo, blockaded Iranian ports, and froze assets, while Mosaddegh framed the conflict as anti-colonial resistance. His speeches frequently invoked Iranian nationalism and defiance against foreign domination, making this statement emblematic of his stance.

Samenvatting verdict

Mohammad Mosaddegh did make this statement in 1951 during the Abadan Crisis, reflecting Iran’s defiance against British economic and military pressure over oil nationalization.

Geraadpleegde bronnen

— Kinzer, Stephen. *All the Shah’s Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror* (2003), Wiley. pp. 45–67 (discusses Mosaddegh’s rhetoric during the crisis).

— Abrahamian, Ervand. *The Coup: 1953, the CIA, and the Roots of Modern U.S.-Iranian Relations* (2013), The New Press. pp. 30–35 (analyzes Mosaddegh’s speeches and British responses).

— Mosaddegh’s Address to the Nation (1951), *Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS), 1952–1954, Iran, 1951–1954* (U.S. State Department archives, available via [Office of the Historian](https://history.state.gov)).

— Milani, Abbas. *Eminent Persians: The Men and Women Who Made Modern Iran, 1941–1979* (2008), Syracuse University Press. pp. 189–192 (cites Mosaddegh’s anti-colonial statements).

— BBC Archives: *The Iranian Oil Nationalisation Dispute* (1951–1953), [BBC News](https://www.bbc.com/news) (contemporary reports on the blockade and Mosaddegh’s responses).