The 1953 coup, orchestrated by the CIA and British intelligence, overthrew Iran’s Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh.

This event marked a dramatic rupture in US-Iran relations. Mosaddegh’s government had nationalized Iran’s oil industry, angering Western powers. The coup installed the Shah, who ruled with strong American backing, fostering resentment among Iranians who saw it as a betrayal of their sovereignty. This covert operation laid the groundwork for enduring Iranian suspicion and hostility toward the US.