The Rest Is Classified

Currently Playing: How Iran Became America’s Enemy

How did the United States and Iran go from uneasy allies to bitter enemies? In this episode of The Rest Is Classified, David McCloskey and Gordon Corera are joined by historian Arash Azizi to uncover the secret history behind one of the most consequential geopolitical rivalries of the modern era. From the CIA-backed coup in Iran in 1953, to the rise of the Shah’s authoritarian regime, and finally the 1979 Islamic Revolution, this episode explores the covert operations, political miscalculations, and historical forces that shaped the modern Middle East. 🤔 Why did the United States help overthrow a democratically elected Iranian government? 🤔 How did the Shah’s powerful secret police help spark a revolution? 🤔 And how did Ayatollah Khomeini, exiled for years abroad, suddenly return to lead one of the most dramatic revolutions of the 20th century? Understanding these events is crucial to understanding the current tensions between Washington and Tehran and why the relationship between the two countries remains so volatile today. If you want to understand the origins of today’s Middle East conflicts, this is the story you need to hear. 00:00 – The Secret History Behind the US–Iran Conflict 00:53 – Why the Current War Traces Back to 1979 04:07 – Historian Arash Azizi Joins the Podcast 05:07 – Iran Before the 1953 Coup 07:08 – Mossadegh Nationalises Iran’s Oil 09:22 – The CIA and MI6 Plot to Overthrow Iran’s Government 11:37 – Operation Ajax: The CIA Coup in Tehran 13:27 – Who Was the Shah of Iran? 17:55 – The Legacy of the 1953 Coup 22:33 – Building Iran’s Secret Police (SAVAK) 24:58 – Iran Becomes America’s Key Middle East Ally 27:00 – Repression, Modernisation, and Growing Opposition 31:20 – Why the CIA Failed to Predict the Revolution 32:47 – The Iranian Revolution Begins (1979) 36:58 – Who Was Ayatollah Khomeini? 42:14 – The Fall of the Shah 44:43 – The US Embassy Hostage Crisis 48:03 – Why Iran and America Became Enemies ------------------- ➡️ Join the Declassified Club to go deeper into the world of espionage with exclusive Q&As, interviews with top intelligence insiders, regular livestreams, ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, and weekly deep dives into original spy stories. Members also get curated reading lists, special book discounts, prize draws, and access to our private chat community. Just go to ⁠⁠https://therestisclassified.com⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts. ------------------ Get a 10% discount on business PCs, printers and accessories using the code TRIC10. Visit https://HP.com/CLASSIFIED for more information. T&C's apply. ------------------- EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ ⁠⁠https://nordvpn.com/restisclassified⁠⁠ Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ✅ Subscribe Here: https://www.youtube.com/@restisclassifiedsub_confirmation=1 🎙️ Listen To The Podcast: https://linktr.ee/triclassified -------------------------------------- 🗞️ Sign Up To The Free Newsletter Here: ⁠https://mailchi.mp/goalhanger.com/tric-free-newsletter-sign-up⁠ -------------------------------------- 📱 Follow Us On Socials: Facebook: / https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567680193497 Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/restisclassified/?hl=en TikTok: / https://www.tiktok.com/@restisclassified Twitter: / https://x.com/triclassified -------------------------------------- 📩 Email: classified@goalhanger.com -------------------------------------- Video Editor: Joe Pettit Social Producer: Emma Jackson Producer: Becki Hills Senior Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Tony Pastor