Hello! I am interested in reading about the 1953 Iran Coup, specifically on background that led to the United States making the decision (domestic, fear of Communism, British, Oil) and have struggled finding good stuff. Wondering if any of you all have good books or articles that are good!
This is still a contentious issue, but the go-to popular account is "All the Shah's Men" by Kinzer. Just be warned that its overall approach to Iranian history is from a pretty pro-nationalist perspective, and to call it a hagiography of Mossadegh is... an understatement. My sense is that it's intended as a counterpoint to mainstream pop history explaining everything in terms of American and British interests and perspectives (and a particular set of capitalist and neoliberal values and assumptions) but at times it reads like a parody.
I know I sound super negative, but I still think it's a good overview if you take the tendentious parts with a pinch of salt.