On July 14, 1958, “A group of Iraqi army officers have staged a coup in Iraq and overthrown the monarchy. Baghdad Radio announced the Army has liberated the Iraqi people from domination by a corrupt group put in power by ‘imperialism.’ From now on Iraq would be a republic that would ‘maintain ties with other Arab countries.’ …While Iraqis are celebrating on the streets of Baghdad, the news is a cause for concern for western powers worried about their oil interests and instability in the region.”
– “1958: Coup in Iran Sparks Jitters in Middle East,” BBC News – On This Day segment