The Foreign Policy of the Iran of Yore

Above is a clipping from the "New Yorker" of  November 17, 1974
published on the occasion of the 2nd Iran-U.S. Investment Conference held in New York City
where I accompanied a very bright team of young Iranian experts, today dispersed arount the world.
Relations with the US were excellent, but today they are a total abberation with no improvement in sight...

Iran's foreign relations were conducted in accordance with what was then called an "Independent National Policy", in keeping with the country's ancient tradition of tolerance and cooperation with all nations of good will.

This policy was summed up in the following terms: We seek peace, co-existence, and better understanding with other nations, whatever their ideologies may be; we will always support endeavours for the establishment and furtherance of social justice; we will assist efforts in bridging the gap between the rich and poor nations of the world; and would support any plans for international cooperation, campaigns against illiteracy, poverty, disease, and other contemporary social ills. These firm beliefs were our guidelines in all international situations, and enabled us to defend the principles of right without hesitation or doubt."

This attitude explained Iran's strong support for the United Nations. Although the U.N.'s peace- keeping efforts have not always been successful, ( they still are not 1n 1997,) Iran believed that there was no satisfactory alternative for the settlement of disputes between states when bilateral efforts failed. We stated in all fora that "that was not in the national interest of any country to reduce the prestige of the United Nations, even if that entailed foregoing certain selfish national aspirations."

In an address by the King at Harvard University in 1968,  we proposed the formation of an international organization "to be known by some such name as the Universal Welfare Legion, in which individuals irrespective of country, class, religion, sex, age, economic level or social status would render service. Their only common denominator would be the fact they should have decided to devote a part of their lives to the service of mankind." This idea somehow akin to the US Peace Corps, was based on the success of Iran's own "Revolutionary Corps", which in a very short time had improved the health and welfare of Iran's less-developed rural population. In 1970 the formation of the U.N. Volunteer Corps, a body closely modelled on this proposal, was announced.

Iran's foreign relations were conducted in a variety ot ways, among which was the personal diplomacy of the King who was recognized as one of the world's experienced statesmen. Iran's views were  then heard and respected everywhere. Iran received a constant stream of politicians, diplomats, businessmen and journalists representing every shade of social and political opinion.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its many foreign missions and representation on all major U.N. agencies, was diplomatically extremely active, and Iran had ample opportunities of expressing its views and hearing those of other nations through membership in a wide range of international organizations related to fields which concern Iran.

Among the U.N agencies and commissions of which Iran was a member, is the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, which was dedicated to increasing the economic growth of 27 Asian countries by means of regional cooperation. The Asian Highway, linking Turkey with south-east Asia, is a major ESCAP project in which Iran has played a leading role.

In a field vital to its economy Iran cooperated with other major oil exporters of OPEC, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. In 1971, and again in 1973, Tehran was the scene for important conferences, at which the OPEC members at last ensured an equitable price for their oil. The significance of this was that for most of the OPEC countries oil is the main and in some cases the only economic resource, without which their chances of achieving economic take-off would be non-existent. Moreover, we considered oil as a wasting asset which at continued high rates of production  would have a a life-span of only a few decades, in Iran's case only about 40 years. It was therefore essential for the OPEC countries to obtain a fair price for their oil resources while they last and use the revenues to diversify their economies and create alternative sources of income.

With once constant threats from the Soviet Union, Iran also became a founding member of CENTO, a defensive alliance between Pakistan, Iran and Turkey, with Britain as a non-regional member and the United States in association. But  with the easing of the international tensions that led to its formation, CENTO became an important force for non-military regional cooperation, particularly in the field of manpower training and cornmunications.

Iran attached particular importance to the Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD), a tri-partite social and economic alliance linking Iran, Turkey, and Pakistan. RCD which came into being on July 21, 1964, following a summit conference held in Istanbul by the three respective Heads of State.

RCD has resulted in the creation of a number of joint-venture industrial enterprises, while in social and cultural fields there have been exchanges of scholars, journalists, sportsmen, and women and youth organizations, for the purpose of acquainting the people of the three countries with their common cultural and social ties. Following a summit meeting in 1976 aimed at developing economic links between the three members, Iran stated 'the doors of RCD were open to all regional countries."

Afghanistan enjoyed a special relationship with Iran, based on the two countries' religious, linguistic and cultural background. In the last years before the revolution, trade with Afghanistan had increased, and new agreements were reached between the two countries concerning transport, banking and agricultural projects.

Iran continued to have friendly but careful relations with the Soviet Union. The two countries, which have 2,640 kilometres of common land and sea borders, were implementing a series of joint projects, including exploitation of the hydroelectric resources of the Aras River, which forms part of the north-west border, and of the fishery resources of the Caspian Sea. Other economic projects in which the two countries have collaborated included a large Steel Complex near Isfahan and the Arak machine-tool plant. Large quantities of Iranian natural gas were exported to the Soviet Union throgh a newly constructed pipeline.  Even larger quantities of gas would have been sold to three West European countries through the Soviet Union in a complex arrangement .

In the political field there were been frequent exchanges of visits between Iranian and Soviet leaders. At the end of the Shah's official visit to the Soviet Union in 1974 in which I personally participated the two heads of state expressed their satisfaction at the successful cooperation between their countries in many fields and expressed their hopes that these links would continue to expand and strengthen.

After a long period of friction between the two countries, Iran and Iraq agreed to settle their differences at a meeting between the Iranian King and  Saddam Hussein, then Deputy Chairman of Iraq's Revolution Command Council at an OPEC summit meeting held in Algiers in 1975, through the good offices of the Algerian President. a series of meetings were held during 1975 and 1976 culminating in the formal exchanges of border-demarcation and 42 security agreements which finally ended  long-standing venimous frontier disputes. Iranian pilgrims resumed visits to the holy shriness of Iraq, after a lapse of several years, and in other fields also relations between the two countries, which have age-old cultural and historic links, improved out of all recognition.

Iran also strengthened its ties with the Arab states to the south of the Persian Gulf. The vital importance of this body of water, not only to Iran and other littoral states, whose economic lifeline it is, but also to many Western and Third World countries whose energy requirements are shipped through the Persian Gulf, makes its security a matter of special concern.

Along with most of the littoral states, Iran believed that no outside power should be present in this area. The King had on several occasions declared Iran's willingness to cooperate with its southern neighbours "as closely as they want, from the closest alliance to the loosest form of collaboration." But Iran could not take any chances or place the freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf at risk. In military terms and according to the Iran of yore, this meant, that we "had decided to be so strong as to be able to secure the stability of the region, if necessary, alone. But obviously  are most profound desire was to cooperate with all the other countries of the region on even and equal footing."

(NB) Today, (1997) more than two-fifths of the world's oil supply is shipped through the Persian Gulf, prompting the United States to maintain at least one aircraft-carrier battle group in the region at all times. The US Fifth Fleet has also four destroyers, three guided missile frigates, two mine countermeasure ships and an attack submarine in the Persian Gulf enforcing a UN embargo against Iraq. Washington, which accuses Tehran of supporting international terrorism and seeking an arms buildup, has about 20,000 troops based in the Persian Gulf, mostly on ships. They have been there since the 1990 Gulf war to fend off possible threats to the oil-rich Arab kingdoms from both Iran and Iraq.

In the case of Oman and during the previous regime, Iranian troops were involved in successfully putting down the Commusnist Dhofar rebellion, at the invitation ot Sultan Qabus, at a time when no other country wished to assist this foreign- directed uprising with its dangerous implications for the security of the wbole region. Iranian troops promptly left when peace was finally settled.

Looking beyond the Persian Gulf, Sea of Oman and the Arabian Sea area, Iran would have liked to see the whole Indian Ocean region a zone of peace and economic cooperation, without the military or physical presence of the superpowers. Iran therefore co-sponsored a successful U.N. resolution calling for the Indian Ocean to be a zone of peace. In 1974, after a series of visits to south-east Asian and Australasian countries, the King proposed the establishment of closer economic ties among all the Indian Ocean littoral countries, including those in East Africa. Iran continued to pursue this long-term idea, and in later years had strengthened bilateral relations with many of the countries concerned.

Relations with Saudi Arabia, the richest and most powerful of Iran's southern neighbours, were further enhanced by exchanges of visits between senior Government officials and royalty of the two countries, culminating in a successful official visit to Iran by King Khaled in May 1976 . The Presi ent of the United Arab Emirates likewise visited Iran in December 1975, while other visits were exchanged with officials from Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar.

Parallel with these friendly relations with neighbouring countries, Iran's links with the rest of the Arab world were strengthened considerably. Iran had also expressed its strong support for the rights of the Palestinian people and the evacuation of Arab lands occupied by Israel, and believed that Muslims, Jews and Christians should have equal opportunities to visit the holy city of Jerusalem.

Iran was also the first country to condemn the use of  force for territorial acquisition after the June, 1967 war, and Iran fully supported U.N. Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 regarding Israeli withdrawal from occupied lands.

lrano-Egyptian relations did flourish ever since the Shah and Queen Farah paid a State Visit to Cairo in 1975. There followed strong bilateral links n political, economic, social and culural fields. The Egyptian President Anwar Sadat returned the visit soon afterwards, and after that year Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, (now Reza Shah II in exile near Washington) in his first official mission abroad, represented Iran at ceremonies to mark rhe re-opening of Suez Canal. Underlining the strength of Irano-Egyptian friendship was the fact that in June 1976, the Egyptian President returned for a one-week visit to Iran..

The joint-communique issued at the end of that visit called for the resumption of the Geneva peace talks, with the Palestine Liberation Organization included on an equal footing with all other interested parties, and emphasized that the peace and security in the Indian Ocean must be maintained by the littoral states.

A positive contribution to Middle East stability occured in 1975, when Iran co-sponsored a U.N. General Assembly resolution calling for the denuclearization of the Middle East. The Resolution was passed by almost unanimous majority, including positive votes by all members of the Security Council.

In addition to the Arab countries of North Africa there were resident or accredited Iranian ambassadors or charges d'affaires in Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Ngwana, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan and Zaire. Political, economic and cultural links have also been established with a number of other African states, underlining Iran's desire to expand cooperation with Africa.

In the Far East and Pacific region Iran also forged new and strong links. Diplomatic relations were maintained with almost all the independent countries of the region These links were further strengthened by the official visits to several south-east Asian and Pacific countries by the King and Queen during which Iran first proposed the strengthening of economic ties among all the countries bordering the Indian Ocean region. Japan was one of Iran's leading trade partners, with both imports from Japan and Japanese investment in lran running at very high levels and were likely to increase still further. Despite the great distance between the two countries, cultural relations were also very strong and a number of Japanese Students were enrolled at Iranian universities and vice versa.

In 1971 Iran recognized the People's Republic of China as the only legal government of China, and soon afterwards diplomatic relations were established. In 1972,  Queen Farah paid an official visit to China and other high-ranking personalities have exchanged visits. In 1973 Iran Air inaugurated twice-weekly flights to Peking and Tokyo, which did much to further friendly relations between Iran and the two major Far East countries.

Iran enjoyed excellent relations with most European countries, both East anc West. The enlarged EEC was by far the largest supplier of Iran's impor needs, in 1974 selling some $4.5 billion worth of goods. In its regular contacts with the EEC countries, colIectively and individually, Iran had been making the point that there was serious inherent imbalance of trade between the EEC and Iran. As oil revenues would decline as inevitably they must, the EEC countries would have to adjust this balance by importing the finished products of Iranian industry, and Iran strongly believed that a more serious strides would have to be made in this direction.

Following the rise in oil prices in 1973 - 74, Iran concluded a number of loans and trade deals with European countries, particularly the United Kingdom, Italy and France. The U. K. received a $1.2 billion loan from Iran, Italy signed a $3 billion agreement covering a steel mill, shipbuilding facilities, petrochemical and construction projects, mainly in south Iran, while a $7.8 billion deal with France covered atomic power stations, a metro system for Tehran, a car factory, and other projects in the transportation, housing, metallurgical, petrochemical and agricultural fields.

Iran had long-standing cultural links with many European countries, as shown by the large numbers of Iranian students in Europe, which then was also the favourite foreign destination for Iranian holiday- makers.

With Canada and the United States, Iran had always had very friendly relations. We also had more than 60.000 Iranian students studying at American Universities. The United States supplied more Iranian imports than any other individual country, reaching over $2 billion annually.

There were regular exchanges of visits between Iranian and U.S. political leaders. The Shah held talks in Washington with different U.S. presidents. Empress Farah also visited the United States and Canada officially, and the Canadian Governor General came to Iran in 1971.

In the economic sphere Iran and the United States in 1975 signed what has been called the largest- ever single agreement between two countries. It was a $15 billion package, ( a big deal then ) which was to be implemented over a five-year period, and consisted of $5 billion in normal trade items, a similar amount for the sale of US. military equipment to Iran, and another $5 billion in U.S. involvement in the Iranian economy. By the way there were more than 50.000 Americans in Iran, they were employed in all fields  -  many were from Arizona, including my good  Sedona neighbors Dick and Pat Swanson who were experts in telecommunications and now just play GOLF!

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