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Witness History: Iran: How the prime minister was overthrown in 1953

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Iran: how the President was overthrown in 1953

15/08/2023 GMT

Iran: How the prime minister was overthrown in 1953

BBC World Service - Witness History, Iran: How the prime minister was overthrown in 1953

It's 70 years since the US-backed coup which brought the Shah of Iran to power in 1953

A US-backed coup in 1953 brought the Shah to power in Iran. Hear archive recordings of a CIA officer and an interview with the grandson of the deposed prime minister.

The coup of 1953 changed the course of Iranian history. The USA - with British help - overthrew a nationalist prime minister and installed the Shah in power. 

In 2010, Alan Johnston heard archive recordings of the CIA officer who played a part and spoke to Hedayat Matine-Daftary, the grandson of Mohammed Mossadeq, the deposed prime minister.

(Photo: crowds of people protest against the Iran coup in 1953. Credit: Getty Images)

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Iran: How the prime minister was overthrown in 1953

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