The Origins of US-Iran Tensions: The 1953 Coup and its Aftermath
TLDR The tensions between the US and Iran can be traced back to the US-led coup in 1953, where the US orchestrated the overthrow of Iran's Prime Minister Mossadegh. This event set the stage for decades of mistrust and conflict between the two countries.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The origins of the tensions between the US and Iran are explored, starting with the US overthrowing Iran's Democratic Prime Minister in 1953.
04:01
In 1953, the US orchestrated a coup in Iran to overthrow Prime Minister Mohamed Mossadegh, using tactics such as bribing the press and spreading anti-Mossadegh propaganda.
08:27
In order to overthrow Prime Minister Mossadak, the US orchestrated a coup in Iran by bribing the press, spreading anti-Mossadak propaganda, recruiting allies among the Islamic clergy, convincing the Shah that Mossadak was a threat, and ultimately attempting to arrest Mossadak and consolidate power in the hands of the Shah.
12:09
The British imposed a worldwide embargo on Iranian oil after negotiations broke down with Mossadegh, who then convinced the Iranian parliament to nationalize Iran's oil, causing the British to seek the help of the US to overthrow Mossadegh and put in a more favorable government.
16:16
After the failed coup attempt, Mossadegh remained in power and had no idea that the U.S. was behind it, but Roosevelt was not willing to give up and was already working on a plan B to remove Mossadegh from power.
20:45
During the constitutional revolution in Iran, an American missionary named Howard Baskerville fought on the side of the constitutionalists, despite being warned not to get involved by the U.S. representative in Iran.
24:29
Kermit Roosevelt's plan to create chaos and violence in Iran through paid mobs and military commanders ultimately led to the overthrow of Prime Minister Mossadegh and the installment of General Zahidi as a placeholder leader until the Shah could return.
29:20
The Shah ruled over Iran as a dictator for 25 years, with the Western powers turning a blind eye due to easy access to Iran's oil, and during this time, the Shah worked to erase any trace of Mossadegh and his era, leading to Mossadegh becoming a symbol of Iran's lost potential and the CIA only officially acknowledging its role in the coup in 2013, 60 years later.
33:43
The narrative of the 1953 coup in Iran that blames the US intervention overlooks the role of Iran's clergy in conspiring to oppose democracy and seize power, using Mossadegh's legacy to their advantage, and while there is plenty of blame to go around between the US and Iran since 1979, the original sin of the US-Iran relationship was the events of August 1953.
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