Journalist Rida Ali charts the history of US intervention in Iran from 1953 to the current attack in this video explainer.
| Rida Ali and Team Zeteo Mar 21, 2026 |
Journalist Rida Ali charts the history of US intervention in Iran from 1953 to the current attack in this video explainer. Watch video and Read on Substack
On February 28, the political landscape of the Middle East shifted dramatically following a reported US airstrike that killed Ayatollah Khamenei. But 2026 is far from the first time the US has been involved in Iranian politics.
Many of the sentiments and strategies we see today echo actions from over 70 years ago in 1953, when a democratically elected leader was overthrown after attempting to nationalize Iran’s oil. For many Iranians, this moment feels like part of a much longer pattern of Western intervention shaping the country’s trajectory. If you think you know the story, let’s take a closer look at how the past and present are deeply connected.
