On August 14, 1953, a U.S.-backed coup detat overthrew Irans Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh. Mossadegh had nationalized the countrys oil industry, angering the British government and U.S. interests. The coup, known as Operation Ajax, restored the monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who ruled with increasing authoritarianism. The event had long-lasting consequences for U.S.-Iran relations and contributed to decades of instability in the region. The coup is considered a key moment in the history of Middle Eastern geopolitics.