Word: shahs
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...primary concern in the West about the Shah's newest crisis was the potential threat to Iran's control over the Persian Gulf, the funnel for much of the oil destined for Japan, Europe, Israel and the U.S. Iraq, which got the Shah to stop Iranian support for a rebellion of its Kurdish separatists in 1975, feared the revival of ethnic and tribal tensions in the region. Fearful that a successful move to topple the Shah would unsettle other monarchies in the area, Saudi Arabia's King Khalid called on Arab nations to give the Shah all possible support...
...fact, Western analysts in Moscow believe that Soviet leaders probably prefer the Shah to any Iranian government that would be likely to follow him. The Kremlin, they point out, would hardly benefit from a military dictatorship, a right-wing Islamic government or a prolonged period of instability. Moreover, the Shah has developed a good working relationship with Moscow over the years, including a large number of joint economic projects and the sale of Iranian natural gas to the Soviets. One of the opposition's complaints is that Tehran's sale of gas to Moscow enables the Soviets to sell their...
Nowhere was concern greater than in Washington. Zbigniew Brzezinski, President Carter's National Security Adviser, telephoned the Shah and told him that he had U.S. backing for whatever he did?in effect, giving him the go-ahead to call in the army. The Administration believes that the military government has given the Shah a temporary reprieve. General Azhari is regarded as an intelligent, sensible administrator and unquestionably loyal to the Shah. "This is not an independent military government," stressed one Administration aide. "It's the Shah's government...
Washington's hope is that if the Shah works skillfully, he can still press ahead with his liberalization program, broaden the base of political participation, root out corruption and ease the social and economic dislocations that plague the country. Said one high-level U.S. official: "The Shah has to persuade the country that he is sincere in his reforms and that however much Khomeini may be respected, the Ayatullah's way would destroy the country. The Shah has got a tremendously long distance to go. He has never had to build support for himself before...
...effective, Washington believes, the military government will have to remain in control for at least four months. The likelihood of a coalition government after that would depend on whether moderates concede that cooperation with the Shah is better than the risk of an entrenched military regime?or of chaos...