"Operation Ajax" was a covert operation conducted by the CIA in 1953 to overthrow the democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran, Mohammad Mossadegh. The operation aimed to restore the monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi after Mossadegh nationalized the Iranian oil industry, which angered Western powers, particularly Britain. The plan involved propaganda, bribery, and the organization of protests to create unrest. Ultimately, the operation succeeded, leading to Mossadegh's arrest and the consolidation of power by the Shah. This event significantly impacted U.S.-Iran relations and contributed to long-term political instability in the region.