US-Iran relations: A history of intervention and regional conflict

The ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran is characterized as the latest chapter in a long history of tension shaped by coups, covert operations, sanctions, and military confrontations. This friction dates back decades, notably to the 1953 CIA and British-led operation to overthrow Iran’s democratically elected Prime Minister, Mohammad Mosaddegh, following the nationalization of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company.

The current regional instability has expanded to include proxy conflicts in Lebanon involving Hezbollah and Yemen, where Houthi rebels have targeted Saudi-linked vessels in the Red Sea. These tensions have caused significant disruptions in global energy markets, particularly regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

Historically, the relationship shifted drastically following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which replaced the US-backed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi with the leadership of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The pattern of US intervention in Iran is viewed alongside other historical instances in countries such as Cuba, Guatemala, Chile, and Venezuela.