TEXT OF SPEECH DELIVERED BY H.I.H. PRINCESS ASHRAF PAHLAVI
ON THE OCCASION OF THE ANNUAL DINNER OF The ASSOCIATION OF
UNITED STATES ARMY NORTHERN NEW JERSEY CHAPTER
AT: THE PINES MANOR EDISON NEW JERSEY - MARCH 20, 1981
IRAN’S PAST, IMPOSSIBLE PRESENT AND POSSIBLE FUTURE
The situation in the Middle East has never been as dangerous and
explosive as it is today - from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean,
the Arab-Islamic World is upset with intense convulsions -
especially acute are those shattering now my beloved country, Iran.
Naturally, in this volatile context, the Soviet Union is profitting and
taking full advantage. Already she has occupied Afghanistan and
thrown her mantle over Syria. She has introduced in Iran her stooges
and communist valets who are waiting for the right hour to take over
the land. She encourages South Yemen and the P.L.O. to destabilize
Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf Emirates. Now the anarchy and
chaos in to which Iran has fallen can only profit the Soviet Union.
Yet, two years ago, peace and stability still reigned in the region and
oil was flowing abundantly at reasonable prices. All that thanks to the
prosperous and strong Iran which my brother had built in 18 years
of brave, continued and sustained efforts - from 1960 to 1978.
The regime, in addition to being an ally of the West, was a source of
stability for Iran itself, as well as all other neighboring countries.
Today, the general trend is to ignore all the realizations of the
Monarchy and keep silent about its great achievements. But the
results were there, for all to see, and the White Revolution
initiated by my brother were bearing their fruits.
The growth rate increased 12% annually. Per capita income progressed
in 25 years from $260 to $2, 200. More than 12 million children
attended schools as compared to 250, 000 in 1960. In 1977, more than
200, 000 students from all income groups using the facilities provided
by the government and the private sector were studying in foreign
universities and spending more than 2 billion dollars a year.
There were then 14 thriving universities against just a few in 1960.
The Literacy Corps was busy teaching in the farthest corners of
Iran and illiteracy fell from 85% in 1960 to less than 50%. The
equality of the sexes was real. A majority of Iranians owned
their own homes. The Gross National Product amounted to
75 billion dollars of which crude oil exports consisted of only 35%.
Hygiene and public health programs had wiped out endemic diseases
such as Typhus, Malaria, Smallpox, Trachoma, etc.
The standard of living of my compatriots had reached heights unknown
in developing countries. There was full employment including a
large community of foreign workers. Development programs were
benefiting all Iranians and a strong thriving and growing middle
class came into being. Huge industrial projects were achieved
or in progress, and many more were on the drawing boards.
Religious freedom for all sects created a climate of tolerance in
which all ethnical and religious minorities were enjoying full rights.
The moderate and wise foreign policy of Iran had allowed for a
constructive and fruitful cooperation with all our neighbors and the
World Community.
A modern and highly disciplined army looked over the security of
the region. Iran was a buttress for all moderate regimes. We were
giving economic aid to Afghanistan and Pakistan and other countries.
Iraq and South Yemen were quiet. The best proof of what I am
stating tonight on the reign of my brother is that if the Iranian army
despite its humiliation and dismemberment today, is able to sustain
some sort of resistance to the Iraqi invasion, it is still thanks to
well-trained soldiers and the stockpile of modern armaments left by
the Monarchy.
But as I speak tonight, Iran has become a countr’y in ruins on the
very edge of total destruction and disintegration. In less than two
years, and well before the Iraqi invasion, the blood-thirsty dictator-
ship of the Mullahs had wrecked and thrown out of gear the entire
economic, administrative and social machinery left by my brother.
Mr. Banisadr himself, confessed that the economy only works at 20%
of its prior capacity and all further programs of development have
been abandoned or outright cancelled. The inflation rate has reached
100%! Qualified and efficient civil servants, as well as industrial
managers have fled the tyranny of the regime and none are to be
found to replace those who have fled, who have been jailed or
murdered by the Khomeini regime. More than 4 million Iranians,
that is to say 10% of the entire population have been thrown out
of work. Oil production which was around six million barrels a
day has fallen to less than 800, 000 barrels. The administration
and the judicial systems have been dismantled, all schools and
universities have been closed down. Endemic diseases have
reappeared.
The monetary reserves left by the Shah which amounted to more
than 12 billion dollars and 20 billion received from oil sales in
1979 and 1980 or in all 32 billion dollars have been squandered in
less than 2 years by the so-called dignitaries of the new regime!
Mr. Ghotbzadeh, the former Foreign Minister, in an interview,
last August, said that a corruption of fantastic magnitude was
sapping the country at all levels. A document made public by
the employees of the Central Bank of Iran, last summer,
revealed that the mullahs were sending hundreds of millions of
dollars to their private accounts in foreign banks. As of the
first days of the Iraqi attack, the coffers of the state were
bare and empty. It is for this reason that Khomeini, contradicting
his prior statements, signed a “deal” with Carter and liberated
the hostages! The funds received from the hostage “deal” is
being spent to further promote international terrorism and fill
the private coffers of the Mullahs.
How was it possible, in less than two years to arrive at such a
catastrophic situation? Of course it is always easier to destroy
rather than to build. But that does not explain the magnitude
of the disaster.
The truth of the matter is that, at the very outset of the arrival
of Khomeini in Tehran, the mullahs, taking advantage of the
extreme weakness of then Prime Minister Bazargan, established
a merciless and blood-thirsty dictatorship. Arbitrary imprisonment,
barbarous executions, blood-thirsty repression, torture and the
imposition of laws from the darkest of medieval times forced
educated and experienced Iranians to flee their beleagured land.
Today almost two million distressed iranians live in exile, under
harassing conditions in Europe and the United States. It was
those Iranians who, in the private and public sectors, built the
modern Iran that we knew! Administrators, professors, lawyers,
intellectuals, writers, researchers, engineers, army officers,
managers, technocrats, doctors, businessmen, etc. They had coop-
erated with all their might under the reign of my brother to build
and develop schools, universities, hospitals, dams, industrial complexes,
etc. The actual regime is confronted with a void which it cannot
fill. In addition, with reverting to practices going back to the
Seventh Century where women are concerned, the Khomeini regime
deprived itself from the services of hundreds of thousands of
iranian women educated in iran, Europe and the United States.
Last but not least, the hate campaign initiated by Khomeini against
Iranian and western culture and civilization has helped to create an
atmosphere of unprecedented xenophobia which highly discourages
foreigners as well as all educated Iranians.
I wish to quote here the very words of one of the few legal experts
who tried to cooperate with the new regime. He is Hassan Nazih,
former head of the iranian Petroleum Industry. He was able, luckily for
himself, to escape the vindictiveness and persecution of the mullahs
and find refuge in Paris. In an interview granted to one of the
most important French newspapers, he revealed, and I quote
“Today, Khomeini has decapitated and practically destroyed the
Iranian intelligentsia, he has also reduced to ashes the military
capability of my country by ruthlessly eliminating its best officers
and elements the iranian economy is in a state of bankruptcy the oil
production which assured daily returns
of upward 75 million dollars has ceased to exist. Monetary reserves
were entirely depleted because everyone and especially the mullahs,
had their hands in the till. War finally has achieved the destruction
of whatever was still standing. Foreign experts have assessed war
damages to Iran, at the end of the first month of the conflict, to
upward 30 billion dollars. Tens of thousands of Iranians have been
killed and more than a million and a half, fleeing the battle zones
have invaded Tehran and other Iranian cities.” End of quote.
The two sketches of Iran, prior to 1978 and from the advent of
Khomeini on, which I have just brushed, are bound to raise within
you a major question. With the success of the White Revolution of
the Shahanshah, how come and especially why could the destructive
revolution of Khomeini take place?
Yes, why?
Many so-called liberals in the U.S.A. as well as leftists in Europe
pretend that Iranians have revolted against what they would like
to call the tyranny of the Shah and the lack of democratic liberties
in Iran.
Their reasoning does not stand. For if such would have been the
case, how come the Iranian people “craving for democracy”
submitted themselves to the barbarous and medieval dictatorship of
Khomeini, one of the most blood-thirsty and merciless dictatorships
ever.
Some are saying that Khomeini “mesmerized” the illiterate masses,
just as the famous Jim Jones did in the United States.
But this reasoning also does not stand when one witnesses the
magnitude of the crimes committed by the new regime.
In eighteen months, the Islamic Komitehs, authentic “Soviets”
instaLled in towns and the countryside have sent to their death
more than 40, 000 people. Torture, for which certain liberal elements
were quick to condemn the ancient regime, has reached such a degree
of horror, that confronted with the scandal, Khomeini himself had to
demote from his sinister functions of public executioner and judge,
the infamous Mullah Khalkhali who not only ordered all forms of
torture but practiced it personally with utter relish!!
Today human rights are being daily trampled upon in Iran. Tens
of thousands of Iranians are being arbitrarily jailed. 50, 000
political prisoners are languishing in the gaols of Khomeini. Our
Kurdish brothers are bombed out with Napalm. Turkoman and
other minorities are persecuted. The so-called “Party of God”
with its henchmen and assassins, organize, just as Hitler and
his “S.S.” did in the past, destructive raids in the houses and
dwellings of peaceful citizens, in the editorial rooms and printing
plants of news papers, in the premises of other parties. They
kill and steal with impunity. They shoot pregnant women,
stone them to death like in antiquity, and bury people alive.
Looking at the chamber of horrors that has become the Iran of
today, the press and former champions of human rights which
never had enough words to criticize the Shah and his regime are
now mute on the crimes of Khomeini Better, they even defend
him! Mr. Andrew Young, friend and confidant of President
Carter called Khomeini, a “Saint”
Following the liberation of the hostages, Mr. Ramsey Clark, finds
excuses for the atrocities of Khomeini and his violations of the
most elementary principles of international law. We can even
discover university professors, clergymen, and politicians who
tell us that we should comprehend, that we should “understand”
with sympathy the fantastic accusations of Khomeini against the
U.S.A. and the previous regime of Iran. Furthermore, those
professors, journalists, etc. condemn and criticize Saudi Arabia,
the Sheikhs of the Persian Gulf and what is left of the moderate
regimes in Asia, Africa and South and Central America.
They denounce what they like to call the “illegal” intei’vention of
the U.S.A., but never find enough excuses for those of Cuba,
Vietnam and the Soviet Union in Asia,Africa and Latin America,
when not completely excusing the acts of terrorism committed by the
P.L.O.
It is this very same attitude which has led to a concerted movement
of destabilization which wrecked Iran during 1978-79.
It is utterly impossible to believe that the Iranian people, wilfully
destroyed the momentous achievements of the White Revolution to
submit themselves to a medieval dictatorship.
In fact, behind the tragic events of Iran, we can clearly see foreign
hands and interests pursuing determined goals.
To begin with, the success of the White Revolution and its
achievements, disquietened certain circles which feared to see a
new Japan emerging in our region of the world. To understand
that, just have a glance at the programs of their puppets, Mr.
Khomeini and Mr. Banisadr. They want Iran to become an
agricultural country, self-sufficient. Their destruction of the
Iranian industry, profits to alien interests and will lead Iran,
should they remain in power, to total anihilation. For Iran does
not have enough water or fertile agricultural land to nourish a
population growing at a rate of over 3% and which will reach
76 million inhabitants at the turn of the century.
What is even more fraught with danger is that the events of
1978-79 and the determination of Khomeini to export his brand
of mad revolution aims not only at Iran itself but also other
Countries.
In this respect, the tactics of some of the liberals and so-called
human rights activists is crystal clear.
They wish to replace, one after another, the moderate regimes
presently allied to the United States with regimes conforming
more to their own wishes. Thus, consciously or not, they are
opening the way for the takeover by the avowed enemies of
the western democracies. Their determination in this respect,
which I hope is unconscious, can only profit one country
the Soviet Union !! The Soviet Union does not need to act
directly, all it has to do is to encourage the liberals.
In today’s Iran, according to all observers, the Marxists are the
only well organizedand disciplined force. Once in power, they
will call for the Soviet Union to come to their rescue, lust as
they did in Afghanistan!! Already the red flag flies over some of
the northern provinces.
If we look back at events in Iran, what I have just said confirms
itself. In 1977 my brother had initiated a program of progressive
liberalization and free elections were scheduled for 1979. It was
the moment chosen by some liberals here and in Europe to intensify
their campaign against Iran. Professors, like Cottam and Falk,
ancient politicians, like Ramsey Clark, threw themselves whole-
heartedly into the battle. They encouraged dissidents within the
student community, infested the press and television. In Europe
also a similar rnovemnt began. They encouraged Iranians to
revolt. They invented and circulated stories about the SAVAK,
which let us say now, are quite pale when compared to Khomeini’s
deeds. While Khaddafi and his friends were sending abundant
supplies of money to organize subversion and disturbances, the
Carter Administration was providing Iran with messages of
moderation. They strongly dissuaded the government to utilize
the forces of order as it is generally used everywhere in case of
insurrection. Haven’t you used yourself, the National Guard, in Ohio
Washington, Chicago, Detroit and Florida in recent years? There-
fore why prevent Iran from doing the same? The press and the
media in the West surrendered all their means of sup port to Khomeini
and made of him a hero. But as long as the Shah remained in
Tehran, Khomeini was unable to return. Alas, the Carter
Administration advised, or rather let me emphasize it, forced my
brother to leave Iran. Furthermore, they sent General Huyser
to paralyze the Army. At long last, the way was paved wide
open for the return of Khomeini in whose entourage were so-called
friends of the U.S.A. Even citizens such as Yazdi and Farhang
and old friends called “liberal” like Bazargan who stated publicly
that the revolution could not have been successful without the
help of the United States.
In deed, some of your politicians firmly believed in a close cooperation
with Khomeini and congratulated themselves on the marvellous
“Islamic-anti-communist” nature of the new regime!!
From then on the Carter Administration treated my brother as an
undesirable person and an erring refugee. The shabby treatment
he received deeply shocked your friends throughout the world
driving them away from you. Furthermore, the unfortunate hostage
ordeal led you in an ever deeper maze of incredible concessions.
The disclosures and revelations of Pierre Salinger in an ABC program
are edifyzng. Mr. Hamilton Jordan was ready to have my brother
arrested in Panama, while your President conferred in the White
House with a French communist lawyer and a shady Argentinian
adventurer. Needless to say, the inhuman treatment given my
brother accelerated the course of his illness. However, despite my
emotion, I do not wish to mix personal sentiments with facts.
My purpose is quite different. The communist danger in Iran is
real and imminent. Unknowingly or not, many movements are
working presently to the advantage of Moscow.
Thus Mr. Khaddafi is anti-communist, but he keeps helping
terrorists and destabilizes regimes, like the one in Chad. All that
is to the advantage of Moscow.
The P.L.O. is not communist but it helps everywhere forces
favorable to the Soviet Union. Khaddafi, it is said, hates the
communists. But the anar~chy and chaos he creates surely must
profit the U.S.S.R.
What is the common denominator between all these individuals?
Obviously it is hate. Hate towards the U.S.A.
The great Satan, calls it Khomeini
The imperialists, says Khaddafi
The Zionists protector, says the P.L.O.
This hate towards the United States is methodically cultivated within
the masses and especially within the youth, in the Islamic world,
in Latin America, in Asia, even within the youth of the industrialized
nations as far as the U.S.A. Take a look at your campuses, the
virus is already spreading.
The reasoning of Khomeini and his followers is crystal clear
I cannot attack directly the U.S.A., therefore I will ruin them from
within. I will utilize Islam, the minorities, university professors,
I will introduce terrorism and if I am not successful I will destroy
Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia and s-top the flow of oil to the U.S.A.
My chances of success are good, Allah is with me and Allah is
the greatest!!
It is the reasoning of the cancerous cell which kills the body feeding
it. It is the reasoning of Hitler and all those who know nothing
but hate.
Who will profit from this state of affairs, if not the U.S.S.R. and
other communists who jump on every available opportunity. Only
Mr. Carter was puzzled by the Afghanistan invasion. “I did not
know the Russians were like this” he declared! Although we had
warned him of the imminent communist takeover at a CENTO reunion
in April 1977.
Nevertheless, as early as February 1976, in his report to the
Communist Party Congress, Mr. Brezhnev stated and I quote
“We do not hide the fact that for us, detente enables favorable
conditions to be established for socialist and communist build—up”.
Fortunately, your new president knows better, for he did not
hesitate to state that detente should not be a “one way street”.
Thus we see a double danger facing the U.S.A. and its western
allies. For not only international communism continues to progress
and installs at your very doormat its valets who seek the uprising
of Latin America, but in addition, Khomeini and his sup porters can
deprive you and your allies of oil and other vital resources.
Facing these dangers the previous administration hesitated and
practiced a policy of contradiction. It showed itself to be weak
during the communist intervention in Angola and Ethiopia. The
Soviet Union took advantage of this weakness in order to spread
its power. What do you want Mr. Brezhnev and Castro to do
when Mr. Andrew Young. the friend of the President, publicly
estimates that the Cuban presence in Africa is a stabilizing factor.
In the Iranian context, we all recall the hesitations of the Carter
Administration before and after Khomeini and during the entire
hostage crisis.
It is high time for the United States to recapture its rightful rank.
We do not speak of sending in the Marines, but there is a definite
need to show firmness and determination against subversion.
Not hearing the voice of the United States, the silent majorities
in the world are loosing faith. That is exactly what is beginning
to happen in Iran where a distressed and terrorized people are
giving up, looking rather to the “communist order” which it hears
is at any rate better than the terror, the anarchy, the arbitrary
and chaos of Khomeini.
This brings me to the last point I wish to dwell upon tonight
The future of Iran.
The Khomeini regime is fast loosing its grip and momentum. it is
not only openly challenged and fought by different tendencies
and separatist movements, but it is also undermined by an intense
power struggle from within, it would be a grave error to artificially
maintain it, and to believe that a Beheshti, a Banisadr or a Bazargan
could bring back order and stability. It would be also a grave
mistake to believe that a “sanitary Islamic fundamentalist cordon”
around the southern borders of the U.S.S.R. could prevent
Soviet expansionism. In fact there are only two alternatives, two solution left
Constitutional Monarchy or Communism.
For 25 centuries monarchy was the backbone of Iran, the needed
catalyst which brought the nation and its people together. At times
monarchy faded temporarily only to reappear brighter than ever in
order to recreate the unity and prosperity of the land.
Following the invasion of the Greeks, the Arabs, the Mongols, she
faded for short periods, but she always reappeared for the greater
bene fit of all concerned.
The events of today are not all that different from those of the
past. Already, in Iran, people remember the blessings and
benefits of the monarchy, the great achievements of 1960-1978.
Evei’ywhere, portraits of Reza Shah II are appearing.
Should the monarchy fail to return and restore soon order and
national unity, the communists will definitely take over power.
For, as we know it from undeniable sources, the people of Iran
have had enough of a backward clergy. They want a secular
regime.
It will be therefore monarchy, theocracy or communism.