This week marks the anniversary of Iran’s 1953 coup, an episode that transformed the Pahlavi monarchy and the American-Iranian relationship. Popular interest in the coup itself tends to overshadow the important events that preceded it. In fact, the joint British-American plot to oust Iran’s prime minister was enabled and encouraged by the success of a devastating embargo imposed on Iran for two years prior to the coup. The 1951-53 embargo and its implications are particularly relevant today, as Washington and the world contemplate next steps in dealing with Iran’s nuclear ambitions and how best to leverage the far-reaching sanctions regime erected to thwart them. As international negotiators prepare for a return to talks on the Iranian nuclear program, delving into the history of the embargo would be instructive for all sides in avoiding a repeat of the mistakes that led up to the earlier catastrophe.
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In Crafting A Nuclear Deal With Iran, Mossadegh Still Matters
This week marks the anniversary of Iran’s 1953 coup, an episode that transformed the Pahlavi monarchy and the American-Iranian relationship. Popular interest in the coup itself tends to overshadow the important events that preceded it. In fact, the joint British-American plot to oust Iran’s prime minister was enabled and encouraged by the success of a devastating embargo imposed on Iran for two years prior to the coup. The 1951-53 embargo and its implications are particularly relevant today, as Washington and the world contemplate next steps in dealing with Iran’s nuclear ambitions and how best to leverage the far-reaching sanctions regime erected to thwart them. As international negotiators prepare for a return to talks on the Iranian nuclear program, delving into the history of the embargo would be instructive for all sides in avoiding a repeat of the mistakes that led up to the earlier catastrophe.