Meanwhile on the Northern Border

As the Iranian crisis developed the Soviet Union moved 75,000 Iranian-speaking troops to its border. It has welcomed the toppling of the pro-US regime - a regime it had contended for the favours of. A leader of the Soviet "communist" party in Iran explained their pleasure: "The Soviet Union would be very happy if, on its southern border there will be a friendly government with no foreign bases. A friendly Iran would be the greatest guarantee for the Soviet Union's security".

The Soviets are confident they can gain further sucesses in Iran. Their puppet party (the "communist" Tudeh Party) is being pushed into building an independent power base. The forces to the left of the provisional government are without a clear perception of the nature of the Soviet Union and the danger it poses to Iran's revolution; The Soviets are probably looking to succour such groups in the hope that the provisional government (or even its replacement) would be forced to tilt closer towards them. It is apt that many people quote the sad fate of Afghanistan where an organised pro-Soviet group subverted their revolution, quickly liquidated those genuinely committed to independence in a series of purges, and tied their country to subservience to the Soviets. This is a real danger in unstable Iran.