Days of Turmoil; February 9, 1979 as Reported by Newspapers

On the ninth day of Bahman 57 (February 9, 1979), the newspapers Kayhan and Ettela'at reported on the bloody clashes between protesters and military forces that occurred on the eighth of Bahman. Ettela'at described these events as the "bloodiest incident" since the events of September 17, 1978, in Tehran's Jaleh Square, while Kayhan reported at least 10 deaths in Tabriz. The main headlines of both newspapers focused on statements made by Shapur Bakhtiar, the Prime Minister, regarding the return of Ayatollah Khomeini. Kayhan quoted the Prime Minister as saying, "There are no obstacles in the way of Imam Khomeini's return," while Ettela'at reported Bakhtiar stating, "The airport is open for Imam's arrival." On this day, the newspapers announced that the country's banks would be closed for a week and quoted Ayatollah Khomeini in an interview stating that "the consumption of luxury goods should be limited." Meanwhile, Ettela'at reported the assassination of an American captain in Farmanieh, Tehran, noting that the assailants, who were two young men, fled the scene. Some of the news headlines from Kayhan and Ettela'at on Tuesday, Bahman 9, 57, are as follows: *The bloodiest incident since the Jaleh Square tragedy* 10 dead and 25 injured in Tabriz* 5 detained journalists released* Kurdistan Democratic Party: We are not separatists* Ayatollah Khomeini rejected Ali Amini* Several high-ranking Iranian officers defected to Israel* There is no place for military bases in Iran* Banks closed for a week* US-Iran negotiations to reduce arms orders* Mysterious weapons destined for Morocco* Consumption of luxury goods must be limited* An American captain was assassinated in Farmanieh* The name "Shahi" was changed to Aliabad. The report from Ettela'at highlights the clashes on Bahman 8 in Tehran, describing it as a "bloodiest incident" since the Jaleh Square tragedy. The report states that the clashes lasted seven hours in 24 Esfand Square, which resembled a battlefield. It also mentions that "the crowd was heading towards Tehran University when gunfire from machine guns began against them." As street protests intensified in Iran, "opposition to demonstrations in Tabriz" led to clashes between law enforcement and the public. Kayhan's report, quoting Ayatollah Qazi Tabatabai, states that in these clashes, "more than ten were martyred and 25 were injured." The report briefly mentions that "the officers, having failed to prevent the protests with tear gas and warning shots, deployed tanks in the streets and opened fire on the demonstrators." Kayhan also reported the release of five detained journalists, stating that they were from the newspapers Kayhan, Ayandegan, and Ettela'at, who had been arrested three days earlier by "military government agents." The detainees included Mehdi Beheshtipour, Nemat Nazari, Firouz Gooran, Jalil Khushkhu, and Masoud Mohajer, who were "effective members of the Press Writers and Journalists Syndicate that led the 62-day press strike." Kayhan reported that the military government of Tehran cited "security" as the reason for their arrest, claiming their crime was not journalistic. However, according to Kayhan, "the press community and national groups and organizations deemed this accusation 'baseless' and rose against it." The Kurdistan Democratic Party, in a statement reflected by Kayhan, emphasized that its goal is to create a democratic Iran free from any oppression and rejects any separatist demands. The statement references the party's origins after the ousting of "Reza Shah Pahlavi in September 1941," stating that at that time, with the revival of "democratic freedoms" and the formation of various parties and organizations, "a leading party with a progressive program was needed to lead the struggles of the Kurdish people," hence the formation of the Kurdistan Democratic Party. The party also pointed out the weaknesses of the Kurdish people's movement and the Kurdistan Democratic Party, including "the failure to articulate the demands of the working class, especially peasants, and the exclusion of the movement from southern Kurdistan." In its statement on Bahman 9, the party called for the unity of anti-regime fighters. Kayhan's correspondent from France reported that Ayatollah Khomeini rejected a request for a meeting from Ali Amini, who had previously served as the Minister of Economy in Mohammad Mossadegh's government and as Prime Minister. The report adds that Ali Amini has recently come to Paris. It also mentions a rumor in Paris that "an Iranian military plane has arrived in Paris carrying a group whose mission is unknown." Kayhan, quoting the Associated Press, reported that "a large number of high-ranking Iranian army and police officers who participated in the brutal operations against the people of this country have defected to Israel." The report, published by the Egyptian weekly Al-Yusuf, adds that "most members of Iran's secret police (SAVAK) are from the Bahá'í sect, whose main shrine is on Mount Carmel in Israel." Kayhan notes that "the weekly did not cite any sources for its report." Ettela'at also quoted Al-Yusuf, which published an interview with Ayatollah Khomeini, stating that the "leader of the Shiites" said, "There is no place for military bases on Iranian soil, and we will not allow the Soviet Union or any other foreign power to interfere in our country's affairs." In this interview, Ayatollah Khomeini also spoke about the conflicts between Arabs and Israelis, expressing concern for the "interests and fate of the Palestinian nation." He stated that "Arab occupied territories must be returned to their rightful owners." On Bahman 9, the newspaper Ettela'at reported the decision of banks to close for one week, citing "protests against recent killings" as the reason. A reporter from Ettela'at noted the formation of "long lines" in front of banks in the early hours of the morning, ultimately leading to an announcement around eight-thirty or nine that the banks were closed. A statement from the "Coordination Committee of the Private Bank Employees Union and the soon-to-be-established Union of State Bank Employees" expressed hatred towards Bakhtiar's government, deeming it illegal, and emphasized the closure of banks for one week. According to the report, these protest actions had previously been conducted on even days, but now bank employees had decided to fully close for one week. The New York Times reported on General Hauser's visit, the Deputy Commander of U.S. Forces in Europe, to Iran, stating that the purpose of the visit was to study the reduction of arms orders that the Shah had placed with the U.S. The report, reflected in Kayhan, noted that in these negotiations with Bakhtiar's government, "William Sullivan, the U.S. Ambassador to Iran, and Eric Marbud, a senior Pentagon official recently sent to Tehran," participated. The report, citing sources from the U.S. Department of Defense and State Department, warned that "there is a risk that the Iranian government may not be able to fulfill the commitments made by the Shah to pay for $12 billion worth of weapons and logistical equipment ordered from the U.S." Among these items were "four missile destroyers worth $1.6 billion and fighter jets F-16 worth over $2 billion."