1979: How the U.S. and Iran Went From Allies to Enemies

The U.S.-Iran relationship is defined by a profound, decades-old animosity stemming from the 1953 CIA-backed coup that restored the Shah to power. By transforming the Shah into an American client, the U.S. inadvertently fueled the 1979 Islamic Revolution, as the Shah’s rapid, forced westernization and extravagant displays of wealth alienated the rural, religious population. Times Magazine contributor Scott Anderson explains that the U.S. ignored clear warning signs of instability, blinded by a diplomatic bubble and an over-reliance on the Shah’s military strength. This historical pattern of American ignorance persists today, as the U.S. continues to misjudge the regime’s resilience and the geopolitical consequences of its interventionist policies. The revolution was not an inevitable outcome but the result of repeated strategic failures and a fundamental misunderstanding of Iranian society.