USA Elm MAAG Iran ARMISH (SD-6645)

• Origins of ARMISH/MAAG: The U.S. Military Mission with Iran began in 1947 as ARMISH (U.S. Army Mission to the Imperial Iranian Army), focusing on modernizing Iran's armed forces amid early Cold War tensions. • Expansion to MAAG: In 1950, the mission expanded and was renamed MAAG (Military Assistance Advisory Group), reflecting a broader U.S. commitment to military and technical support in Iran. • Cold War Context: The presence of ARMISH/MAAG was a strategic effort to counter Soviet influence in the Middle East and maintain Iran as a pro-Western ally. • Code Name SD-6645: The designation “SD-6645” was an internal U.S. military reference for the Elm MAAG Iran ARMISH unit, used for administrative and operational purposes. • Training and Modernization: U.S. advisors trained Iranian officers, introduced modern military tactics, and facilitated the acquisition of American weapons and equipment for the Imperial Iranian Army. • Advisors’ Role: At its height, MAAG Iran consisted of hundreds of American military advisors from all service branches, living and working in bases and offices alongside Iranian counterparts. • Operation Ajax (1953): ARMISH/MAAG personnel played indirect roles during the CIA-backed coup that reinstalled Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, cementing U.S.-Iranian military ties. • Regional Influence: By the 1970s, Iran—bolstered by American support—had one of the region’s most advanced militaries, often used as a counterweight to Soviet-backed forces. • Notable Alumni: Several Iranian officers trained by ARMISH/MAAG later became prominent leaders in Iran’s military or, after the 1979 Revolution, in the Islamic Republic’s military establishment. • End of the Mission: Following the 1979 Iranian Revolution and the fall of the Shah, all U.S. military personnel—including those in ARMISH/MAAG—were withdrawn, marking a dramatic end to over three decades of military cooperation.