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In 2016, the BBC published a report which stated that the administration of United States President Jimmy Carter (1977–1981) had extensive contact with Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and his entourage in the prelude to the Iranian Revolution of 1979.[1][2] The report was based on "newly declassified US diplomatic cables".[1][2] According to the report, as mentioned by The Guardian, Khomeini "went to great lengths to ensure the Americans would not jeopardise his plans to return to Iran - and even personally wrote to US officials" and assured them not to worry about their interests in Iran, particularly oil.[1][2] According to the report, in turn, Carter and his administration helped Khomeini and made sure that the Imperial Iranian army would not launch a military coup.[1][2]
In his memoir, Answer to History, the Shah claimed that the little-known Khomeini was able to ignite the 1963 demonstrations in Iran with help from foreign agents and that US President Kennedy initially wanted him out of power before later changing his opinion of him. The Shah also claimed that President Jimmy Carter was another liberal president who reminded him of Kennedy and who wanted to interfere in Iran's affairs. In a year prior to the Revolution, Big Oil contracts with Iran were expiring; however, the companies never sought to renew the contracts with the Shah, which according to him was a blackmail threat. Ultimately the Shah claimed that the Americans and British colluded against him due to his 1973 nationalization and oil price hike. [3] [4] The BBC report also showed a 1980 CIA analysis, which portrays Khomeini's attempts to contact the US as far back as 1963, during John F. Kennedy's administration.[1][2]
Iran's political elite has dismissed these declassified reports. Ayatollah Khamenei stated that "it was based on fabricated documents". Ebrahim Yazdi (formerly a close associate of Khomeini) and Saeed Hajjarian viewed the BBC report with skepticism.[1][2]
- ^ a b c d e f Dehgan, Saeed Kamali; Smith, David (10 June 2016). "US had extensive contact with Ayatollah Khomeini before Iran revolution". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 July 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f Fattahi, Kambiz (3 June 2016). "Two Weeks in January: America's secret engagement with Khomeini". BBC. Archived from the original on 27 August 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
- ^ Pahlavi, Mohammadreza. Answer to History. p. 104.
- ^ Scott Copper, Andrew. "The Fall Of Heaven".
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