51. Airgram From the Embassy in Iran to the Department of State1
SUBJECT
- Significance of Khomeini’s September 9 Speech
REF
- Embtel 2782
It now appears that Ayatollah Khomeini’s speech of September 9 (NIT–6533)3 did not include any statement supporting the Mansur Government. The only relatively positive feature of the speech is that, while it criticizes the Iranian regime on numerous counts, it does so somewhat less violently than usual for this dissident clerical leader.
According to more reliable information [less than 1 line of source text not declassified], the September 9 speech blamed “world colonialism” for the divisions between Shia and Sunni, and “the West” for differences between Iranians and Arabs and other Moslems. Khomeini termed the RCD a specific instance of such foreign-inspired division among Moslems (although he did not cite the RCD by name). He inveighed against Israeli and Jewish influence in Iran, complained against lack of freedom of public expression for the religious leaders, and took an oblique swipe at the New Iran Party. [1 line of source text not declassified]/3/
On the whole, qualified observers feel that even though Khomeini continues to remonstrate against the regime and its policies, there has been a slight toning-down in his position. SAVAK believes the religious situation does not for the moment constitute a serious problem for the security authorities.
It is possible that a judicious mix of bribery, conciliatory tactics and the ever-present threat of the regime’s mailed fist, has had the effect of lessening somewhat the virulence of Khomeini’s opposition—although, as his latest speech is now more reliably reported, he is very far indeed from calling for support of the government.
for Political Affairs