We interrupt “History of the Constitution” to offer “Short history of U.S. involvement in Iran.”
1953: Mossadegh, elected by people of Iran to head gov't, but U.S. joined other countries in Mossadegh's overthrow because Mossadegh nationalized Iran's oil. [FN1] 1/12

We replaced Mossadegh w/the Shah [FN2], who nationalized Iran’s oil industry [FN3] & was a leader in OPEC. [FN4] [FN5] The Shah used coupons the U.S. gives to our dictators to form & train his secret police, SAVAK. [FN6] The Shah built highways, etc. [FN7] 2/12

SAVAK engaged in torture, (e.g., driving nails under a person’s fingernails [FN8]). [FN9] The Shah was overthrown. The U.S. pissed in the faces of people in Iran by allowing the Shah into the United States for cancer treatment. [FN10] That's when they stormed our embassy. 3/12

(Here's a quick factoid: Reagan's people interfered w/the Carter admin's attempt to negotiate hostages' release in an act that could be called "treason" by some. Or it could be called treason. [FN11]) The aesthetics of bipartisan support for & incompetence regarding, 4/12

Iran span "D" and "R" administrations. When we started losing $$$ we provided intel &/or materiel to both sides in the Iran-Iraq war. Oil prices plummeted gifting a “good” economy to Reagan. [FN12] The problem today: an idiotic Russian asset in the WH 5/12

ordered Iran bombed. THAT WAS A WAR CRIME. [FN13] V.P. Vance also said we are not at wat w/Iran. [FN14] This is why other countries hate us. 6/12

Footnotes:
FN1. “In 2013, a declassified CIA internal document publicly confirmed the U.S. involvement: The military coup ‘that overthrew [Mossadegh],’” Washington Post, “The U.S. helped oust...” 6/19/25, accessed 6/22 25.
FN2. Id.
FN3. Tabibzadeh, Kambiz, “Iran Announces Nationalization of Foreign Oil Interests,” EBSCO, accessed 6/22/25. 7/12

FN4. Cooper, Andrew, “The Fall from Heaven,” (2016), pp. 198-99, accessed 6/22/25.
FN5. Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
FN6. Rose, Gregory, “The Shah’s Secret Police Are Here,” New York, 9/18/78, accessed 6/22/25. 8/12

FN7. Afhkami, Reza. “The Life and Times of The Shah.” p. 328.
FN8. Nasser Karimi and Jon Gambrell, “Torture still scars Iranians 40 years after revolution,” AP, 2/6/19, accessed 6/22/25. 9/12

FN9. A fire at Cinema Rex, as an act by SAVAK, is disputed & blamed on opponents of the Shah. Enough questions have been raised that I prefer to research that specific incident.
FN10. “The Shah’s Health: a Political Gamble,” The New York Times Magazine, 5/18/81, accessed 6/22/25. 10/12

FN11. Schwarz, Jon, “A Short History of Everyone Who Confirmed Reagan’s October Surprise Before the New York Times,” THE INTERCEPT, 3/24/23, accessed 6/22/25.
FN12. Two major oil producing countries at war w/each other sold as much oil as fast as they could to buy weapons. 11/12

FN13. UN Charter Article 51 forbids unprovoked attacks on another country.
FN14. V.P. Vance on 6/22/25. 12/12