Rev Left Radio A History of Iran-U.S. Relations
11 snips
Apr 17, 2026 Dr. Afshin Matin‑Asgari, a historian of 20th‑century Iran and author of Axis of Empire, unpacks a long arc of Iran–U.S. interaction. He traces oil, military ties, the 1953 coup, the 1979 revolutionary rupture, and the era of sanctions and nuclear tension. They also examine the roles of militarization, transnational movements, and recent regional war dynamics.
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1953 Coup Stemmed From Military Links And Worker Strikes
- The 1953 coup followed deep U.S. penetration of Iran during WWII, including training officers and building ties to the military.
- Mossadegh's oil nationalization was rooted in a longer history of labor strikes and popular demands, not just elite nationalism.
Mossadegh's Failure To Unite With Left Undermined Resistance
- Matin-Asgari argues Mossadegh's weakness included relying on U.S. goodwill and failing to unite with the powerful Tudeh communist movement.
- The lack of cooperation between Mossadegh and organized left forces contributed to his inability to resist the CIA-backed coup.
White Revolution Modernized From Above And Repressed Below
- After the coup the U.S. built Iran as a Cold War client state, strengthening the Shah and creating SAVAK with American and Israeli assistance.
- The Shah's 1963 White Revolution implemented reforms like land redistribution and literacy but concentrated power and fueled opposition.
