The CIA Coup: How America Toppled Iranian Democracy

In the shadows of oil deals and Cold War paranoia, one nation's democracy was stolen—and the world changed forever. "The CIA Coup: How America Toppled Iranian Democracy" is a gripping exposé of Operation Ajax, the covert U.S.-British plot that overthrew Iran's first democratically elected government in 1953. With haunting precision and deep historical insight, this book unveils how Mohammad Mossadegh, the symbol of Iranian self-determination and the architect of oil nationalization, was brought down by foreign powers obsessed with control, greed, and empire. Through declassified CIA files, eyewitness testimonies, and the unraveling of secret cables, this powerful narrative takes readers into the heart of one of history's most consequential regime change operations. From the plotting halls of Washington and London to the trembling streets of Tehran, we witness how a democracy was crushed under the boots of espionage, misinformation, and betrayal. This is not just a story about the past. The coup's consequences are still felt in every strained negotiation, every broken promise, and every chant of "Death to America" that echoes in the Middle East today. The fall of Mossadegh laid the foundation for the Shah's dictatorship, the 1979 Iranian Revolution, and the lingering animosity between Iran and the West. In twelve immersive chapters, "The CIA Coup" explores: The political rise of Mossadegh and his challenge to British oil imperialism The birth and execution of Operation Ajax The role of media manipulation and street mobs in manufacturing consent The psychological warfare used to discredit democratic leaders The transformation of Iran into a U.S.-backed police state The seeds of revolution sown by imperial overreach Borna Ahadi's compelling and authoritative account brings to life a critical chapter in world history that is too often overlooked or sanitized. This book is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the roots of modern Middle Eastern politics, the legacy of American interventionism, and the fragile nature of democratic aspirations in the face of empire. History has consequences. And in the case of Iran, the scars of 1953 have never truly healed. Dramatic. Unforgiving. Unforgettable. "The CIA Coup" is a warning and a revelation—a story of how the West betrayed a nation's hope and created a new enemy in the process.