Four Days In August

The U.S. and Iran have had a tense relationship for decades — but when did that begin? Over the next two weeks, we're exploring the history. This week, we feature our very first episode about an event from August 1953 — when the CIA helped to overthrow Iran's prime minister.

If you would like to read more on the 1953 coup, here's a list:

• All the Shah's Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror by Stephen Kinzer
• Countercoup: The Struggle for the Control of Iran by Kermit Roosevelt Jr.
• "Secrets of History: The C.I.A. in Iran" from The New York Times (a timeline of events leading up to and immediately following the coup)
• "CIA Confirms Role in 1953 Iran Coup" from The National Security Archive (CIA documents on the Iran operation)
• "64 Years Later, CIA Finally Releases Details of Iranian Coup" from Foreign Policy magazine

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