326. Editorial Note
On July 27, 1980, the former Shah of Iran, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, died in Cairo. The Department of State issued a press statement conforming to its final draft. See Document 308. The press statement is in Department of State Bulletin, September 1980, page 55. President Anwar Sadat announced that Egypt would hold a State funeral for the Shah with full military honors, but would not invite other governments or the diplomatic corps to participate in funeral ceremonies. U.S. Ambassador to Egypt Alfred (Roy) Atherton reported that most members of the diplomatic corps would not attend, some intended to put their flags at half-mast, and others had decided not to fly their flags at all. On the upper right corner of Atherton’s telegram, Carter wrote: “Atherton not attend service. Do not fly US flag. C.” (Telegram 16446 from Cairo, July 28; Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Middle East File, Box 33, Subject File, Iran 7/21/80–7/31/80)
[Page 868]On July 28, Gary Sick of the National Security Council Staff wrote the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs, Zbigniew Brzezinski, that the Ambassadors of France and the United Kingdom would attend. He wrote:
“As you know, it was my view that our position on sending Roy to the funeral should be made independently of the rest of the diplomatic corps. I never liked the idea of hiding behind others’ skirts on this issue. However, I think we will look both foolish and cowardly if other Western nations send ambassadorial representatives to the funeral and we do not.”
In the upper right corner of this memorandum, an unknown hand wrote: “ZB thinks the President should be aware of this right away.” Carter then wrote at the bottom of the memorandum: “3:35 p.m. 7/28 I told Ed [Muskie] to let Atherton attend. J.” (Ibid.)
The Shah’s funeral took place on July 29. In attendance were former President Richard M. Nixon, exiled King Constantine of Greece, Atherton, and diplomats from the United Kingdom, France, China, Israel, Australia, and Morocco. According to an August 11 Time magazine article, “An Exile Laid to Rest,” on his deathbed, the Shah “asked to be buried ultimately in Tehran near his executed generals, named son Reza as his successor and prayed for the overthrow of the Ayatullah Khomeini.”
A Central Intelligence Agency National Foreign Assessment Center Spot Commentary on the Shah’s death noted that reaction in Iran had been “low key,” although Tehran radio had reported that “the bloodsucker of the century has died.” The Spot Commentary concluded: “The Iranians are unlikely to change their fundamental position on the hostages in reaction to the Shah’s death. The hostages will remain pawns in Tehran’s continuing power struggle.” The report noted, however, that Iran’s reactions might change depending on actions of the Shah’s family and the exile opposition, prominent members of which gathered in Cairo. Some of the exile opposition “reportedly suggested that the Crown Prince name himself Shah. Such an announcement could aggravate tensions in Iran.” On the Spot Commentary, an unknown hand wrote: “and in the U.S. since he is resident at Williams College.” (Department of State, Records of David D. Newsom, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Subject Files, 1978–1981, Lot 81D154, Briefing Book: The Shah Panama Jan–March 1980, Egypt Jan–July 1980, Vol. V) On October 31, from Cairo, on his 20th birthday, Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi proclaimed himself Shah Reza II and called for an uprising against the current government. (“Son of the Shah Assumes the Title,” New York Times, November 1, 1980, page 1; “New Shah Urges Revolt,” Chicago Tribune, November 1, 1980, page S2)