President Trump’s sanctions on Iran and those who dare to do business with it have come into full force on 5th November 2018. Coincidentally, it was on 4th November 1979 that some militants took over the US Embassy in Tehran.
I have seen, in my lifetime, a sea change in relations between the US and Iran from the time I was the First Secretary at the Indian mission in Teheran (from 1976 to 1979). When I reached Tehran in 1976, Shah-n-Shah (King of Kings) was seen to be at the zenith of his power and glory. I do remember an evening with my counterparts from the US, UK, and Sweden within a fortnight of my arrival. The host (US) raised a toast to welcome me and added that 2500 years of Iran’s history taught us that the institution of the Shah-n-Shah would remain forever.
I teased him about the 1953 abortive revolution when Prime Minister Mossadeque nationalised the oil industry, and the Shah-n-Shah ran away to Rome. He retorted that the CIA restored the Shah-n-Shah. I added, at the cost of only $10,000. My UK colleague referred to the simmering discontent with the regime and predicted with confidence, or ‘high confidence’ to use a CIA phrase, that the Shah-n-Shah would survive. The other two concurred, and the three looked at me.
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