Days of Turmoil; February 8, 1979 as Reported by Newspapers

On February 8, newspapers resumed publication after two days of closure. On this day, conflicting news about the indefinite closure of airports in the country was reported. Newspapers wrote that Abadan International Airport was also surrounded by tanks, and there were reports of a potential stopover by Ayatollah Khomeini in Damascus to meet with Arafat. On this day, the newspaper Ettela'at reported the assassination of Gholamhossein Danesh, the representative of Abadan in the parliament, while Kayhan speculated about the possibility of Bakhtiar's resignation. *We executed 3 Prime Ministers* The news of the execution of 160 air force personnel was denied. *We are unable to fly to Iran* A flood of crowds headed towards the airport. Following rumors of Imam Khomeini's return, 30,000 cars headed towards Shahrokhi base. *Airports in the country are closed for an indefinite period* *Abadan International Airport is surrounded by tanks* *Danesh, the parliamentary representative, was assassinated* *Bakhtiar may resign soon* *Stop in Damascus?* Interesting points from yesterday's Tehran rally were noted. The Ettela'at newspaper reported from Paris that "Haj Mehdi Iraqi, a man who was released from prison three months ago after 13 years and collaborated in the execution of three Iranian Prime Ministers as a member of the Fedayeen Islam, revealed the secrets of the execution of these three Prime Ministers, namely Abdolhossein Hejazi, General Razmara, and Hassan Ali Mansour today in Paris." The newspapers wrote that Abadan International Airport was also surrounded by tanks, and there were reports of a potential stopover by Ayatollah Khomeini in Damascus to meet with Arafat. On this day, the newspaper Ettela'at reported the assassination of Gholamhossein Danesh, the representative of Abadan in parliament, while Kayhan speculated about the possibility of Bakhtiar's resignation. *A flood of crowds headed towards the airport* *Following rumors of Imam Khomeini's return, 30,000 cars headed towards Shahrokhi base* *Airports in the country are closed for an indefinite period* *Abadan International Airport is surrounded by tanks* *Bakhtiar may resign soon* *Interesting points from yesterday's Tehran rally* Ettela'at reported from Paris that "Haj Mehdi Iraqi, a man who was released from prison three months ago after 13 years and collaborated in the execution of three Iranian Prime Ministers as a member of the Fedayeen Islam, revealed the secrets of the execution of these three Prime Ministers, namely Abdolhossein Hejazi, General Razmara, and Hassan Ali Mansour." Ettela'at quoted Iraqi as saying, "After them, it was the turn of General Nasiri, General Ayadi, and Dr. Iqbal."--> Return The news of the execution of 160 air force personnel was denied. Ettela'at quoted Bakhtiar as saying that "no military personnel can be executed without my (Bakhtiar's) permission." The military personnel rumored to be executed were supporters of Ayatollah Khomeini and had "rebelled against the Shah."--> Return *We are unable to fly to Iran* Kayhan quoted Bakhtiar as saying that "no military personnel can be executed without my (Bakhtiar's) permission." The military personnel rumored to be executed were supporters of Ayatollah Khomeini and had "rebelled against the Shah." The airline "Air France" stated that due to "the closure of Iranian airports, it cannot fly to Iran." According to Kayhan, the spokesperson for "Air France" also noted that the plane carrying Ayatollah Khomeini is "chartered and exclusive" and added that "it must obtain special permission from Iranian authorities, which has not yet been granted." In this report, a Kayhan correspondent in Paris stated that Ayatollah Khomeini, who still intends to travel to Iran, responded to a foreign journalist's question about the possibility of ordering the people to take up arms by saying, "If necessary, we will say so."--> Return A flood of crowds headed towards the airport A crowd estimated by Kayhan to be around thirty thousand people had poured towards Mehrabad Airport and Behesht Zahra Cemetery from the early hours of the morning to welcome Ayatollah Khomeini two days earlier (on Friday, February 6). In this report, a Kayhan correspondent in Paris stated that Ayatollah Khomeini, who still intends to travel to Iran, responded to a foreign journalist's question about the possibility of ordering the people to take up arms by saying, "If necessary, we will say so." A flood of crowds headed towards the airport A crowd estimated by Kayhan to be around thirty thousand people had poured towards Mehrabad Airport and Behesht Zahra Cemetery from the early hours of the morning to welcome Ayatollah Khomeini two days earlier (on Friday, February 6). Kayhan reported that these individuals had gathered around Shahyad (Azadi) Square and were chanting slogans, and the landing of several military planes at the airport raised suspicions among the people that Imam Khomeini had arrived in Tehran. The report adds that among the crowd, after 9 AM and "becoming hopeless" about the arrival of Ayatollah Khomeini, rumors intensified. Among them was the claim that "Imam Khomeini's plane has landed at Shahrokhi base" or that the plane had landed in Tabriz.--> Return Following rumors of Imam Khomeini's return, 30,000 cars headed towards Shahrokhi base This report adds that among the crowd, after 9 AM and "becoming hopeless" about the arrival of Ayatollah Khomeini, rumors intensified. Among them was the claim that "Imam Khomeini's plane has landed at Shahrokhi base" or that the plane had landed in Tabriz. Following rumors of Imam Khomeini's return, 30,000 cars headed towards Shahrokhi base. A reporter from the Ettela'at newspaper stated that due to the rumor of Ayatollah Khomeini's plane landing at Shahrokhi base in Hamadan, "30,000 cars" headed towards this base. The reason for spreading this rumor was the sighting of a white plane that had landed at Shahrokhi base. After the gathering of people, "the police repeatedly warned that no one should gather in front of the base." Ettela'at also referred to the demonstration of "13,000 residents of Vahdati and Kabotar Ahang bases" who demanded the establishment of an "Islamic government." In the meantime, a Chevrolet vehicle belonging to "one of the American advisors at the base was set on fire by an unknown person or persons."--> Return *Airports in the country are closed for an indefinite period* The reason for spreading this rumor was the sighting of a white plane that had landed at Shahrokhi base. After the gathering of people, "the police repeatedly warned that no one should gather in front of the base." Ettela'at also referred to the demonstration of "13,000 residents of Vahdati and Kabotar Ahang bases" who demanded the establishment of an "Islamic government." In the meantime, a Chevrolet vehicle belonging to "one of the American advisors at the base was set on fire by an unknown person or persons." *Airports in the country are closed for an indefinite period* The airports in the country, which were initially announced to be closed for three days, are now reported by Kayhan to be "closed indefinitely due to ongoing repairs of aircraft reception devices." This short news adds that if the Prime Minister decides to travel to Paris, "a private plane will fly from Mehrabad Airport to Paris." With the postponement of Ayatollah Khomeini's trip to Tehran, Kayhan reports that "a wave of anger and dissatisfaction" has spread throughout the city. This report also mentions the renewed presence of martial law agents to prevent "unfortunate incidents with tanks, artillery, and machine guns" in the streets of Qom. Kayhan writes that in the recent demonstrations, the slogans of the people have also been "different" and "all against Bakhtiar."--> Return *Attack on the Iranian Consulate in London* This short news adds that if the Prime Minister decides to travel to Paris, "a private plane will fly from Mehrabad Airport to Paris." With the postponement of Ayatollah Khomeini's trip to Tehran, Kayhan reports that "a wave of anger and dissatisfaction" has spread throughout the city. This report also mentions the renewed presence of martial law agents to prevent "unfortunate incidents with tanks, artillery, and machine guns" in the streets of Qom. Kayhan writes that in the recent demonstrations, the slogans of the people have also been "different" and "all against Bakhtiar." In recent days, various reports of attacks on Iranian embassies have been published, and now the Ettela'at newspaper reports from London that "fifty Iranian students residing in England attacked the Iranian consulate in London in protest against the closure of Mehrabad Airport to prevent Imam Khomeini's return." According to this report, the consulate was besieged for five hours. The demands of the besiegers were reported to be the reopening of the airport.--> Return *Abadan International Airport is surrounded by tanks* A reporter from the Ettela'at newspaper reported from the city of Abadan that the international airport of this city has been "occupied by tanks and armed soldiers." This report states that "military officials stationed several fire trucks and tanks on the airport runway to prevent any potential landing of planes." According to this report, the consulate was besieged for five hours. The demands of the besiegers were reported to be the reopening of the airport. *Abadan International Airport is surrounded by tanks* A reporter from the Ettela'at newspaper reported from the city of Abadan that the international airport of this city has been "occupied by tanks and armed soldiers." This report states that "military officials stationed several fire trucks and tanks on the airport runway to prevent any potential landing of planes." In this regard, an Ettela'at reporter says that hundreds of people in Abadan expressed their deep regret over the prevention of Imam Khomeini's return while gathering at Imam Sadiq Mosque.--> Return *Danesh, the parliamentary representative, was assassinated* The Ettela'at newspaper reported the assassination of Gholamhossein Danesh, the representative of Abadan in the National Assembly, "when he was passing through Damavand Street in his car." According to this report, Danesh was shot at by individuals who "fired three bullets at the car from within a green Peugeot vehicle." This report adds that "two bullets hit the body of the car, and the third bullet, after piercing the car's window, hit Danesh in the shoulder." This parliamentary representative was transferred to 25 Shahrivar Hospital after this assassination attempt and underwent surgery.--> Return Bakhtiar may resign soon Kayhan quoted a report from the French news agency that "informed sources" said Shapur Bakhtiar "may resign soon." This report "follows rumors that Bakhtiar may resign to be able to meet with Ayatollah Khomeini." Kayhan writes that Ayatollah Khomeini refuses to accept Bakhtiar as the Prime Minister of Iran.--> Return *Stop in Damascus?* The Ettela'at newspaper quoted Kuwaiti media reporting that Ayatollah Khomeini is expected to meet with Hafez Assad, the President of Syria, and Yasser Arafat, the leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization, in the near future. This speculation adds that these meetings will likely take place in Damascus on the way back of Ayatollah Khomeini to Tehran.--> Return *Interesting points from yesterday's Tehran rally* Kayhan reported in a different news piece about the events surrounding the demonstration on February 7, noting that "two pregnant women who were in the last months of their pregnancy gave birth during the rally." Bakhtiar may resign soon Kayhan quoted a report from the French news agency that "informed sources" said Shapur Bakhtiar "may resign soon." This report "follows rumors that Bakhtiar may resign to be able to meet with Ayatollah Khomeini." Kayhan writes that Ayatollah Khomeini refuses to accept Bakhtiar as the Prime Minister of Iran. The Ettela'at newspaper quoted Kuwaiti media reporting that Ayatollah Khomeini is expected to meet with Hafez Assad, the President of Syria, and Yasser Arafat, the leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization, in the near future. This speculation adds that these meetings will likely take place in Damascus on the way back of Ayatollah Khomeini to Tehran. Interesting points from yesterday's Tehran rally Kayhan reported in a different news piece about the events surrounding the demonstration on February 7, noting that "two pregnant women who were in the last months of their pregnancy gave birth during the rally." Among other incidents on this day, two people suffered heart attacks during the rally, and "three men suffered broken legs due to falling." This report also mentions two women who "felt unwell" and were transported to medical centers by the people and the stationed rescue group.