The greatest losers in the Iran conflict are not Washington, Tel Aviv, or Tehran's rulers, but the ordinary people of Iran. Their suffering did not begin today. It can be traced back to 1953, when Britain and the United States helped overthrow Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh after he nationalized Iran's oil industry. The coup restored the Shah and paved the way for decades of authoritarian rule, including repression by the SAVAK secret police. Many historians view this intervention as a major factor leading to the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
Some may argue that Iran has gained leverage through its ability to influence shipping and oil markets around the Strait of Hormuz. But any financial or strategic gains cannot compensate for the decades of lost democratic development, repression, war, sanctions, and isolation endured by the Iranian people.
The lesson is simple. Foreign powers should not overthrow democratic governments to protect geopolitical or economic interests. Had Britain and the United States respected Iran's sovereignty in 1953, Iran's history—and perhaps the history of the Middle East—might have been very different. Lasting peace comes not from coups, sanctions, or military force, but from respecting the right of nations to determine their own future.
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