Mossadeq was – to put it kindly – elliptical in his approach to negotiations.

From Small Wars, Faraway Places by Michael Burleigh. Page 266.

“Accompanied by oil-industry experts and with the future CIA Director Vernon Walters acting as his interpreter, Harriman sought to defuse the situation by concentrating on the technical difficulties thrown up by precipitate nationalization: how would the Iranians make up for their lack of expertise, where were their oil tankers? But Mossadeq, who when he met Harriman’s wife kissed her hand as far as her elbow, was – to put it kindly – elliptical in his approach to negotiations. When Harriman spoke of oil prices, Mossadeq mused that ‘it all started with that Greek Alexander’ who had burned ancient Persian Persepolis 2,000 years before. Nor was Harriman prepared for the depth of Mossadeq’s resentment towards the British. ‘You do not know how crafty they are,’ he raged. ‘You do not know how evil they are. You do not know how they sully everything they touch.