BP-CIA: Their Role in 1953 Iran Coup

Interesting interview linking BP, the CIA, and the rise of modern terrorism in the Middle East. 60 years ago BP was called the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company.

Excerpted from an interview with Stephen Kinzer, author of All the Shah’s Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror.

STEPHEN KINZER: Well, I’ll tell you an interesting story to start off. I was recently on a panel in the National Cathedral in Washington, and one of the other panelists—we were talking about Iran—was Bruce Laingen, who had been the chief American diplomat in Iran and was the most prominent figure among the hostages that were held there for 444 days. And I knew that Laingen had become an advocate of reconciliation with Iran, which I consider quite remarkable, considering the ordeal that he suffered, so I wanted to talk to him. I hadn’t met him before. And we exchanged…

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