Operation Ajax

Operation Ajax was a covert mission orchestrated by the United States in 1953 to overthrow Iran's democratically elected Prime Minister, Mohammad Mossadegh. The operation aimed to secure U.S. and British interests, particularly regarding oil resources, as Mossadegh had nationalized the oil industry. The CIA, alongside British intelligence, orchestrated protests, propaganda, and political manipulation, leading to Mossadegh's arrest and the reinstatement of the Shah, a monarch who aligned with Western interests. This intervention had long-lasting effects on U.S.-Iran relations and is often cited as a significant event in Cold War history.