Show Notes
In this episode, we examine the 1953 Iran coup, codenamed Operation Ajax, in which the United States and the United Kingdom orchestrated the overthrow of democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh. The coup, driven by oil nationalization and Cold War fears, restored power to Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and strengthened Western influence in Iran. The discussion analyzes the operation’s planning — including the pivotal on-the-ground role of CIA officer Kermit Roosevelt Jr. — its immediate success, and its long-term consequences, including its role in fostering deep anti-Western sentiment that contributed to the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
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