Kermit Roosevelt hired a crowd of Iranian citizens to act as a riotous mob in Tehran. For a sum of $50,000, the crowd was instructed to attack mosques and images of the Shah under the facade of supporting Mossadeq to link the leader to anti-Islamic and communist groups. However, Mossadeq's Chief of Staff, General Taghi Riahi was informed of all the details of the plot on August 15, 1953, yet he decided to stay at his house with the National Frontists.