Island of Stability (speech)

Jimmy Carter's speech in the Shah's party

Island of Stability (Persian: جزیره ثبات‎‎) was the phrase that Jimmy Carter used to description the circumstances of Iran under the leadership of the last Shah of Iran, Muhammad Reza Pahlavi.

Place and date

Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States, traveled to Iran in late December 1977. On New Year's Eve, in the Niavaran Complex, he made a speech during which he said, "Iran is an island of stability in one of the most troubled area of the world." Also, in this speech he called Muhammad Reza Pahlavi a popular king among Iranians.

Consequences

After this speech, Muhammad Reza felt encouraged to proceed to further suppression of his opponents. One week later, on Saturday, January 7, 1978, the article "Iran and Red and Black Colonization" was published in Ettela'at under a pseudonym, targeting Ayatollah Khomeini. Following the article's publication, several protests occurred in Mashhad, Qom, and Tehran. Also, Khomeini condemned Carter's speaking and declared the Shah, Muhammad Reza Pahlavi, to be a tyrant and a traitor.

Analysis of the support

Ahmad Zeidabadi believes Carter was aware of the sporadic protests against Muhammad Reza in Iran and knew that Iranian society was unstable, so it seems he described Iran as an Island of Stability to strengthen Pahlavi and to reassure him of the U.S. government support for him. Sadegh Zibakalam says the speech was based on Carter's false impression of Iran's circumstances and believes Americans were unable to see the coming storm (Iranian Revolution).

See also

• Iranian Revolution