299. Editorial Note
On August 29, Radio Tehran announced the resignation of Prime Minister Eqbal and his cabinet and that former Minister of Industries Jafer Sharif-Emami would be the new Iranian Prime Minister. The announcement followed the Shah’s August 27 press conference in which he expressed dissatisfaction with the elections and suggested the need to do something dramatic to restore confidence in the electoral process. The Shah called for the nation as a whole to express its will on possible cancellation of the elections, even though such a procedure was unconstitutional. Pro-Shah political parties and independents called for [Page 699] cancellation and new elections. On September 1, the Shah issued an order calling on the deputies in the Majlis to resign collectively and establishing a committee to either revise the old election law or produce a new comprehensive election bill. As the Embassy pointed out, collective resignation of the Majlis allowed the Shah to avoid cancellation of the elections. (Telegrams 516 and 547 from Tehran, August 29 and September 1; Department of State, Central Files, 788.00/8–2960 and 788.00/9–160)
In his August 30 “Synopsis of State and Intelligence material reported to the President,” John Eisenhower reported:
“The Shah has fired Prime Minister Eqbal in an effort to save himself from complicity in the rigged elections.
“The Shah is highly shocked over Khrushchev’s reaction to a letter which the Shah recently sent. Khrushchev expressed displeasure with the letter then pointed out the specific points on which he claimed the U.S. and the British had made changes. Khrushchev’s points were apparently sufficiently accurate that the Shah felt there had been a leak or codes had been compromised.” (Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Eisenhower Diaries)
On September 13, John Eisenhower included the following on Iran in his synopsis:
“General Hedayat, the Chief of Staff of Iran, reports that the Shah seems to be convinced that further participation in CENTO is useless. He may decide to withdraw from CENTO and fall back entirely on the Iran/U.S. bilateral pact. While the Shah’s unhappiness is chronic, it has become intensified by continuing Soviet pressure and opposition to him over the rigged elections. (Date of report unknown—see below.)
Soviet Ambassador Pegov is now en route back to Tehran. This probably results from Premier Sharif Emami’s intention to improve relations with the USSR. Radio Moscow halted its propaganda attacks on the Shah on August 31st.” (Ibid.)
At the 459th Meeting of the National Security Council, Allen Dulles included in his intelligence briefing on “Significant World Developments Affecting U.S. Security,” the following report on Iran:
“Mr. Dulles said the resignation of the Prime Minister of Iran had paved the way for improvements of Iranian-Soviet relations. The Shah had annulled the recent elections and had installed a cabinet weaker than the last one. If Iran now engages in negotiations with the USSR, Iran will certainly not be leading; from a position of strength. Mr. Dulles reported rumors that the Iranian Foreign Minister would hold conversations with Khrushchev during the UN session in New York. Mr. Dulles thought the Iranian Foreign Minister was not a strong character and that any negotiations between him and Khrushchev in New York, where the Foreign Minister would not be supported by other Iranian officials, would be dangerous. Mr. Dulles concluded his remarks on Iran by noting that the Soviet Ambassador to Iran had returned to Tehran after a long absence.” (Ibid., NSC Records)