THE SHAH must be living out of a suitcase these davs (though no doubt a very regal and well-packed Wale. reportedly on the verge STOr medical RICHARD CARVER reports.
In fact, the Shah has just about had enough. And the emergence of Shapur Bakhtiar candidate for prime THUSICI HEIS given possible exit.
deputy leader of DEKDURE the liberal National Front, is an avowce monarensE me nan hasreportedly assured Bakhtiar assigning royal power to a regency council.
But Ardeshir Zahedi, the ambassador -tO and therefore an important gauge of imperialist thinking, denies this version of events.
LUCKY Whatever the truth of these reports two things are clear: a Bakhtiar government will be at best a nine day wonder and ine snan will be lucky to last even that long.
The main power opposition lies working class, and particularly the strike wave headed by the oil workers.
For two months maximum oil production has been only half the normal output. Now it is between 5 and 10 per cent of normal - not even enough to meet domestic need Oil workers are backed by strikes in other including the public services and Iranair.
The regime has introduced domestic oil rationing and cut all exports. But many workers suspect government olding back on oil supplies to create greater domestic hardship.
CONSUMPTION the From Paris opposition leader Ayatollah Khomeini has called tor workers to continue produce enough oil for Iranian consumption. possible by the fact that most Iranian STrIKeS are work-to-rules or Oil in 1977 accounted for 77 sectors, per cent of government revenue and 87 per cent of foreign exchange earnings.
EVIDENT
oil For all the evident distortions that the of Iranian development, indusdeliberately TalisatIon the technology from imperialism.
The military might and long stability monarchy was bought with oil money.
Iranian oil is also important LO LIC world financial economic system.
Is made world's fourth producer and second largest rcally CADOrECL sit-down All the major imperialist powers receive a substantial portion their demand), (3 per cent).
would have been Iranian oil industry gets 14 per need from Iran.
the Pahlavi may increase an oil producer, Iran is the larges oil be out of domestic production.
obliges Shah's capitalism.
threat consumption from Iran, including Japan (16 per cent of The West Germany (11 terminology per cent) and the United States dated, economic British Petroleum has a 40 per cent stake in the foreign 'no win consorl wich contos Ene By and Britain Vickers, cent of its domestic But Britain's oil revenues Chieftain because of the shortage. Although Britain is supply.
member of an oil consumers' it Is also a CRISIS cartel, the International Energy the One of the main ways Britain could meet the shortfall created bv the lack of ranian of would respective domestic oil But CUIC IEA The
Support workers Support workers Union