Iran approves bill to sue US over 1953 coup

TEHRAN - The Associated Press

In this August 16, 1953 file photo, Iranian army troops and tanks stand in front of Central Police headquarters after the attempted coup d'etat against Iranian Premier Mohammad Mossadeq in Tehran, Iran. AP Photo, File

Iran's parliament has given preliminary approval to a bill requiring the government to sue the U.S. for its involvement in the 1953 coup that overthrew the country's democratically elected prime minister.

The bill calls for setting up a committee to study the issue and provide a report within six months before legal action is launched against the U.S. government in an international court.

Of 196 lawmakers attending Wednesday's session of parliament, 167 voted in favor of the bill while five opposed it. The session was broadcast live on state radio.

New declassified documents offer more details of how the CIA orchestrated the overthrow of Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh 60 years ago.

The coup restored the despotic regime of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. He was overthrown in the 1979 Iranian revolution.