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August 29, 2013

Iranian Lawmakers Approve Suit Against U.S. for 1953 Coup 
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The Iranian parliament has approved a measure that would sue the U.S.
government for overthrowing Iran’s nationalist government 60 years ago
this month. On August 19, 1953, Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad
Mossadegh was toppled in a coup organized by U.S. and British
intelligence. Mossadegh was targeted after nationalizing Iran’s oil
industry, sidelining the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, which later became
known as British Petroleum, or BP. The removal of Iran’s first
democratic government ushered in more than two decades of dictatorship
under the Shah, who relied heavily on U.S. aid and arms. The Iranian
vote to sue the United States comes days after the CIA finally admitted
to its role in the coup with the release of declassified reports.

 

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