28. mordad coup d’état (11. 780)

Instigated by American and British petroleum interests in the region, the Iranian army overthrew the democratically elected government of Mohammad Mosaddegh on this day in 1953 in favour of bolstering the monarchical rule of Shah Mohammad Rez Pahlavi, refusing to cooperate with the administration once an audit was requested of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company to make sure the UK corporation was adhering to the terms of it stewardship. Following threats to nationalise the producer’s assets, perceived increasing Communist influence and a worldwide embargo against Persian, Churchill and Eisenhower conspired to rid themselves of this uncooperative element. Under military leadership, the Shah was able to consolidate power and reign for the next twenty-six years, aligned with Western interests, until deposed during the 1979 Revolution (see previously here and here). In August 2013, the US government formally acknowledged the CIA’s role in regime change.