The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, and Power

by Daniel Yergin

Day after day, Harriman, assisted by Levy, would try to educate Mossadegh about the realities of the oil business. “In his dream world,” Harriman cabled Truman and Acheson, “the simple passage of legislation nationalizing the oil industry creates profitable business and everyone is expected to help Iran on terms that he lays down.” Harriman and Levy sought to explain to Mossadegh about the need for marketing outlets, in order to sell oil, but to no avail. That the company was called “Anglo-Iranian,” they said, did not mean that all of its oil was produced in Iran. Revenues were also earned from refining and distribution in many countries. At one point, Mossadegh seemed to be demanding more revenue from a barrel of oil than the total selling price realized on all the different products derived from that barrel. “Dr. Mossadegh,” said Harriman, “if we are going to talk intelligently about these things, we have to agree on certain principles.” Mossadegh peered at Harriman. “Such as what?” “Such as: nothing can be larger than the sum of its parts.” Mossadegh stared straight at Harriman and replied, in French, “That is false.” Harriman, though he did not speak French, thought he had caught Mossadegh’s drift, but he couldn’t believe it. “What do you mean ‘false’?” he asked incredulously. “Well, consider the fox,” said Mossadegh. “His tail is often much longer than he is.” With that salvo fired, the Prime Minister put the pillow over his head and rolled back and forth in the bed, ...