What has been overlooked is that Paul based his position on the effects of the 1953 ouster by the CIA of Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh.

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Last March, in the most conciliatory speech to date, Mrs Albright said the United States regretted the Central Intelligence Agency's involvement in the 1953 coup that overthrew Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh and brought back the Shah.

ECONOMIST: Iran

"The shah had very little legitimacy -- he was brought to power by a foreign-inspired coup, " he added, noting that Pahlavi was restored to power after a coup led by Britain and the United States ousted nationalistic Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh.

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