The 1953 CIA Coup in Iran: How Historical Amnesia Fuels US-Iran Tensions
By
James Fallows
Slow-proofed and worth the wait. Worth its weight in flour.
Summary
This article examines the historical context of US-Iran tensions, focusing on the 1953 CIA-engineered coup that overthrew Iran's democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh. It contrasts how this history is widely known in Iran but largely unknown in America, arguing that this collective amnesia has dangerous consequences for current US-Iran relations and the potential for war. The piece is the first of a two-part series exploring the "battle of memories" behind the US confrontation with Iran.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledWhat a difference two years can make: In first photo, from Washington in 1951, Dean Acheson, as US Secretary of State, warmly greets Mohammad Mosaddegh, the recently elected prime minister of Iran.
Then in 1953, the CIA engineered a coup to overthrow Mosaddegh and replace him with the Shah.
Most people in today's Iran know this story. Few people in today's America do.
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