Does the West want democracy in Iran? History says the opposite.

Every time Western leaders talk about the need for "freedom and democracy" in Iran, they reveal either stunning historical ignorance or breathtaking cynicism. The uncomfortable truth is that Iran had democracy - until the CIA and British intelligence destroyed it.

The very founding story of today's Iran is that it was a functioning democracy, overthrown by Western powers for the unforgivable crime of nationalizing their own oil reserves, controlled at the time by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (later renamed British Petroleum—yes, that BP).

Back then, as today, the last thing on the West's mind was the interests of the Iranian people. It was all, as it always is, about corporate profits and imperial control. And people who believe and spread the “freedom” rhetoric are unfortunately - often unbeknownst to them - just useful idiots serving those interests. As always, ignorance serves power.

You cannot understand Iran's current relationship with the West without knowing this history.

What follows is the story of how American and British intelligence agencies destroyed Iranian democracy to protect oil company profits - a meticulously documented account based on David Talbot's excellent book "The Devil's Chessboard", the authoritative biography of Allen Dulles, the longest-serving Director of the CIA to date.

Every Iranian knows this story. It's time more Westerners learned it too.