| 1963
|
1341
|
Djamchid Gharib
|
Persian: قریب
|
Djamchid Gharib spent a large part of his diplomatic career in Turkey, where he was our ambassador, before he retired. In 1978, while spending his summer holidays there - for he knew the country perfectly and had many, Turkish, personal friends - he was told, by the two highest authorities in the Turkish government, Washington was preparing a coup, in Iran, involving certain religious leaders; and they begged Djamchid Gharib to tell the Shah "that he ought not to trust the Americans". Secular Turkey was worried about the possibility of a democratic government being installed in Iran. It was an important message, and, as soon as he returned to Tehran, Gharib asked for an audience with the Shah. He was kept waiting - he no longer had any official position, after all. He confided his information to Hoveyda, who offered to act as an intermediary. Gharib declined this offer, and, several days later, his persistence paid off. He was received, and relayed his message, in detail, to the King, including the identities of his informants. The Shah, annoyed, asked him, "whom have you told about this conversation of yours, in Ankara?" "The Minister to the Court asked about my business," the former diplomat, "and I declined to reveal it; but I said a word or two, without the least detail, to Nahavandi, and to my son-in-law, Doctor Shirvani, "Shirvani was a professor at Tehran University and an elected Deputy. "Forget this for ever," snapped the Shah commandingly, "and tell them to forget it too, for it's no more than drawing-room chatter!"[citation needed]
|
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
|
Willy Spühler
|
1965
|
1343
|
