Carter and Iran: Clash ...
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The 39th president of the United States died on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100, on the anniversary of his trip to Iran. During his historic trip to Iran in late December 1977, which took place on New Year Eve, Carter introduced Iran as “an island of stability in one of the most troubled areas of the world.” This visit became a symbol of the clash between global policies and the political and civil transformations occurring in Iran at the time, marking one of the turning points in the contemporary history of the country.
In the early years following the fall of the Shah and the victory of the Islamic Revolution, many critics viewed Carter’s failure to be re-elected as president of the United States as a result of his mishandling of the hostage crisis at the US Embassy in Tehran, which was seized by “the Muslim Student Followers of the Imam’s Line.”
This is a narrative about Jimmy Carter’s life after his presidency, written by an Iranian journalist: “Although Jimmy Carter lived for 44 years after the end of his presidency, he likely thought about those 444 days during all those years when his mind was occupied with how to secure the release of 52 American hostages in Iran. These hostages were held …. as a form of punishment for the US’ 25 years of interference in Iranian affairs, and they were released under an agreement in Algeria; precisely when Ronald Reagan was taking the presidential oath.”
An interesting point to note is that Carter passed away on the anniversary of his trip to Iran. The then-President of the US arrived in Iran on December 31, 1977, along with his wife, Rosalynn Smith, and attended a banquet at Niavaran Palace. Carter’s presence in Iran is a narrative of the clash between politics and fate, leaving an unforgettable image in the history of the country’s contemporary foreign policy; an image that suggests even the “Island of Stability,” from the perspective of the global hegemon’s leader, can within just one year become host to a revolution that would challenge this self-proclaimed hegemony in the heart of the Middle East for over four decades.
From birth to politics
Born on October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia, Carter became one of the most influential political figures of the 20th century. His father was a conservative and a segregationist, while his mother was a free-thinking woman who devoted a significant part of her life to caring for underprivileged families in Georgia. His political career began in 1962 when he won the Georgia state senate election. At that time, Carter was a supporter of “John F. Kennedy” and was known for his integrity and independent views, although politics did not always favor him.
He lost in the Democratic primary for the governorship of Georgia in 1966, but this setback set the stage for his powerful comeback in 1970. Carter not only secured the Democratic nomination this time but also became the governor of Georgia by defeating his Republican opponent.
He then focused on the 1976 presidential election. The political climate in the US at that time, especially following the Watergate scandal that led to Richard Nixon’s resignation, presented a golden opportunity for him. By analyzing the Democrats’ defeat in the 1972 election, Carter concluded that winning the 1976 election required a moderate candidate from outside the power circles in Washington—someone who could restore the public’s trust. This strategy propelled him from state governor to president of the US.
Elections and victory of Democrats
Carter was one of the ten candidates in the Democratic Party’s primaries for the presidential nomination in 1976. Though unknown to many voters, his firm positions on preventing waste of government resources, advocating for a balanced budget, and addressing the needs of the poor increased his popularity.
In the fall of 1976, his victory in the US presidential election had profound effects on the political landscape of Iran. Historical evidence shows that Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi was not pleased with Carter’s victory over Republican candidate Gerald Ford in the US elections. The Shah, who had close ties with the Republicans, especially Richard Nixon, preferred US policies to be pursued under the management of this party.
Carter’s policy and Pahlavi regime
Nixon, the Republican president, had adopted policies in support of the Pahlavi regime; extensive sales of military weapons were conducted, the role of regional gendarme was assigned to this regime, and the Pahlavi regime was considered the closest political-military ally of the US in the region.
Although Carter’s stances on “defending human rights” and “criticizing arms sales to dictatorial regimes” could have raised concerns for the Shah, after Carter entered the White House, he adopted a dual policy. On one hand, he emphasized human rights, political openness, and limiting arms sales, while on the other hand, he gradually leaned towards greater cooperation with the Shah’s regime.
The bilateral military relations underwent significant changes during the years 1976 to the fall of the regime under Carter’s presidency. Initially, restrictions were imposed on the export of military equipment. These restrictions were later lifted, although many military contracts did not reach the implementation stage after the revolution due to specific US laws regarding the export of military equipment and the need for a lengthy process.
During Carter’s presidency, three main approaches towards third-world countries were observed: Pressuring authoritarian regimes to respect human rights and democracy, reducing military and intelligence presence, and striving for international peace. The Shah of Iran leveraged the support of his friends in the Carter administration and the US Congress to alleviate external pressures and successfully regained Washington’s backing.
The Pahlavi regime, influenced by political pressures from human rights organizations and in an effort to win Carter’s favor, took measures to reduce these pressures; among them, the dismissal of “Amir Abbas Hoveyda,” its prime minister who had held executive responsibilities in accordance with the Shah’s wishes for nearly 13 years, followed by his arrest. Additionally, individuals involved in suppressing political groups and opposition parties were arrested and tried.
After Hoveyda, “Jamshid Amouzgar” came to power. From then on, as the scope of crises expanded, prime ministers changed one after another because they lacked the capacity to overcome the crises, and cabinet changes did little to sustain the regime or resolve internal issues.
In the year 1977, the Shah traveled to the US once, and Carter visited Iran again, when he introduced Iran as “an island of stability”.
These reciprocal visits and official meetings indicated political support for maintaining the status quo. Until the convening of the Guadeloupe Summit in January 1979, when the internal situation in Iran had reached a critical stage, the US still hoped for the Shah’s survival and supported Bakhtiar’s government and the establishment of the Regency Council to protect its interests after the Guadeloupe Summit.
Therefore, it must be said that Carter retreated from his human rights rhetoric and, like his predecessors, continued to provide unconditional support for the Shah. Carter’s historic visit to Iran and his laudatory remarks at the dinner at Niavaran Palace seemed to underscore this policy shift.
He stated, “Our views on security issues are closer with no country than with Iran. I have no leader for whom I feel more gratitude and friendship than the Shah,” but just a year after these remarks, the Shah fell, and the Islamic Revolution triumphed.