Days of Turmoil; February 4, 1979 as Reported by Newspapers

On the fifteenth day of Bahman 57 (February 4, 1979), the newspaper Ettela'at reported on a "fateful meeting" that took place the night before in the presence of Ayatollah Khomeini, attended by members of the Revolutionary Council, whose names had not yet been disclosed, as well as the potential Prime Minister selected by Ayatollah Khomeini. A political reporter from Ettela'at stated that "according to rumors at the Imam's residence, Engineer Bazargan will hold the position of Prime Minister in the provisional revolutionary government." However, Kayhan reflected the statements of Shapour Bakhtiar, the Prime Minister, emphasizing that he would not "compromise" with either the Shah or Ayatollah Khomeini. Among the noteworthy reports in mid-Bahman 57 was a claim by a Japanese news agency regarding a meeting between Brezhnev and a representative of Ayatollah Khomeini in Bulgaria. Some headlines from the two prominent newspapers, Ettela'at and Kayhan, on February 15, 1979, include: *Important meeting last night in the presence of the Imam* *I will not compromise with the Shah nor with Khomeini* *Zahdi showcases power in Washington* *Arab countries will not face peril* *The fate of American intelligence devices in Iran* *Bakhtiar: Sharistani will be arrested* *Injured protesters will receive free treatment* *Meetings in Tehran are now allowed* *Secret meeting of Brezhnev*. In the report, Ettela'at mentioned the formation of a "significant meeting" on the evening of Saturday, Bahman 14, in the presence of Ayatollah Khomeini and noted the announcement of the definitive members of the Revolutionary Council by Ayatollah Khomeini. The report added that "one of the Imam's close associates described this meeting as a fateful gathering." It further stated: "According to rumors at the Imam's residence, Engineer Bazargan will hold the position of Prime Minister in the provisional revolutionary government, and the meeting last night, which lasted for two hours behind closed doors, was actually to determine the exact timing for the announcement of this government by Imam Khomeini." The main headline of Kayhan on February 15 featured Shapour Bakhtiar's statement that "I will neither compromise with the Shah nor with Khomeini." Kayhan quoted Bakhtiar as saying that "communist elements have acquired large amounts of weapons" and warned that "those who instigate a civil war will be executed." Bakhtiar also stated that "I will fulfill all of Imam Khomeini's views within the framework of the law," but simultaneously asserted that "I will not allow Ayatollah Khomeini to form a provisional government." In a report from Washington, Ettela'at cited the Associated Press stating that "while the spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry recognizes Ardshir Zahdi as resigned, Zahdi showcases power in Washington." The report noted that "Ardshir Zahdi, the Iranian ambassador, returned to Washington. Two weeks prior to leaving the U.S., he had informed the U.S. State Department in a letter that he had dismissed four embassy staff members, but Asad Homayoun, the second-ranking embassy official, reinstated them in Zahdi's absence and took down the Shah's pictures in the embassy." According to the report, "Zahdi telegraphed again to have the pictures installed, and they were installed, while Homayoun again ordered their removal." The report claimed that "Mr. Ardshir Zahdi recently resigned from his post as Iran's ambassador in the U.S." The topic of the resignation of the mayor of Tehran and the reactions to it was also reflected in the newspapers on February 15. On this day, Ettela'at reported, citing a member of the Tehran City Council, that "Tehran cannot remain without a mayor. Therefore, if Mr. Sharistani's absence continues and his resignation is confirmed, we are obliged to hold a special session and elect a new mayor." The newspaper also quoted Shapour Bakhtiar, the Prime Minister, stating that "the situation is really chaotic; Mr. Sharistani, whose cases of abuse and theft are currently under government review, resigns, presumably to be among the free men." The Prime Minister referred to the cases related to the mayor of Tehran and stated, "At the beginning of my term, upon the advice of several knowledgeable advisors, I intended to dismiss and arrest Sharistani. However, I preferred to let his abuse cases complete before starting necessary actions." He warned that "hiding behind resignation cannot erase their major crime of betrayal against the nation. I am sure that Imam Khomeini knows these opportunistic abusers well." Kayhan also reported that "a government official announced today that orders have been given to prevent the departure of Javad Sharistani, the mayor of Tehran, from the country." Kayhan quoted this unnamed government official stating that "Sharistani has not appeared at work since today." The newspaper Ettela'at on February 15 published a statement from the "Judiciary Medical Center," which stated that "we hereby inform the public that the Judiciary Hospital located in Ferdowsi Square (the center of protests) will provide all injured persons with free surgical and outpatient treatment and will continue to operate in this regard." Kayhan reported on this day that "the military governor of Tehran announced today that with the approval of Dr. Shapour Bakhtiar, the Prime Minister, if groups of people wish to hold meetings in an orderly and peaceful manner, the military governor will agree to it." The announcement from the Tehran governorate mentioned that "the meetings held in the past three days have been conducted with complete order and calm." Kayhan reported on February 15, reflecting a report from the French news agency from Tokyo, citing a Japanese news agency claiming that "last month, Leonid Brezhnev, the General Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party, secretly met with a representative of Ayatollah Khomeini in Bulgaria." According to this report, "an Iranian source in London stated that this meeting lasted three hours and discussed the political plans of the Iranian religious leader." Kayhan noted: "The Japanese news agency reports that the exact date and location of the meeting have not yet been disclosed and emphasizes that this meeting took place about a week after the favorable stance of the Soviet Union towards Ayatollah Khomeini and support for the overthrow of Bakhtiar's government.