1953 Iranian coup d'état

1953-08-15 - 1953-08-19

On 19 August 1953, Iran's prime minister Mohammad Mosaddegh was overthrown in a coup d'état that strengthened the rule of the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The coup was instigated by the United Kingdom (MI6, Operation Boot) and the United States (CIA, Operation Ajax). A key motive was to protect British oil interests after Mosaddegh nationalized Iran's oil industry and the Majlis voted to expel foreign oil representatives.