Conclusion
The 1953 Iranian coup d’état remains one of the most pivotal events in modern Middle Eastern history. It was not merely a domestic upheaval but a Cold War episode that highlighted the clash between nationalism, imperialism, and superpower rivalry.
For Iran, it marked the loss of democratic aspirations and the beginning of decades of authoritarian monarchy under the Shah, ultimately fueling the resentment that erupted in the Islamic Revolution of 1979. For the United States and Britain, it was initially a triumph, ensuring access to oil and geopolitical dominance, but in the long run, it sowed mistrust and enmity that still shape relations with Iran today.
The coup’s legacy is therefore both immediate and enduring: a reminder of the dangers of foreign intervention, the fragility of democratic institutions in the face of global power politics, and the long memories of nations whose sovereignty is violated.
