The Coup

The narrative centers on the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency's covert operation in August 1953, which led to the overthrow of Iran's democratically elected leader, replacing him with the authoritarian Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. Over the subsequent twenty-six years, the U.S. supported the shah's unpopular regime and secret police, prioritizing access to Iran's oil wealth and solidifying its influence in a tumultuous region. This historical account highlights the complexities of foreign intervention and its long-lasting consequences.