Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
90BAGHDAD1068
1990-02-21 11:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

RIOTS IN TEHRAN

Tags:  PINS IR 
pdf how-to read a cable
O 211100Z FEB 90
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2962
INFO GULFWAR COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 01068 

E.O. 12356:DECL:OADR
TAGS: PINS IR
SUBJ: RIOTS IN TEHRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 01068

E.O. 12356:DECL:OADR
TAGS: PINS IR
SUBJ: RIOTS IN TEHRAN

1. (C-ENTIRE TEXT)

2. WESTERN AMBASSADOR HAS SHARED WITH US THE
REPORT OF HIS COLLEAGUE IN TEHRAN ON THE
FEBRUARY 16 RIOTS.

3. THE WESTERN EMBASSY NOTES THAT THE IRANIAN
PRESS CLAIMED THAT THE RIOTS BEGAN BECAUSE A
FOOTBALL GAME WAS POSTPONED DUE TO BAD
WEATHER MAKING THE TURF UNSUITABLE FOR PLAY.
THE EMBASSY BELIEVES THIS IS PROBABLY NOT THE
REAL REASON. A CROWD OF FROM TWO TO
FIVE THOUSAND THREW STONES AND CARRIED
PICTURES OF THE SHAH'S SON. THE PRESENCE
OF THE PICTURES SUGGESTS A PRE-ARRANGED,
NOT SPONTANEOUS, DEMONSTRATION, AND FURTHER
SUGGESTS THAT CANCELATION OF THE FOOTBALL
GAME WAS NOT BECAUSE OF A WET PITCH. FURTHER,
SLOGANS WERE SHOUTED AGAINST THE REGIME
AND SOME SHOTS WERE HEARD.


4. THE EMBASSY IN TEHRAN NOTES THAT THE
CLAIMS OF THE MUJAHIDIN FROM BAGHDAD WERE
MUCH EXAGGERATED (COMMENT: AS USUAL),BUT
CLEARLY ANY DEMONSTRATION MUST WORRY THE
IRANIAN REGIME. RUMORS ARE BEGINNING TO FLOOD
TEHRAN, WITH COMPARISONS TO THE BEGINNING OF
THE TROUBLES IN 1979 RAMPANT. MORE
MILITARY ACTIVITY THAN USUAL HAS BEEN
NOTED IN THE CITY.

GLASPIE