The Big Noise

From across the Soviet border, Iran has been subjected to an unprecedented propaganda campaign of hate against the Shah. Powerful transmitters at Baku and Tashkent, between bursts of fine Persian music, devoted more time to programs in Parsi than the Russians spend on any other foreign-language broadcast except English. "Foreigners are pouring into Iran like ants and locusts, depriving Iranians of their rights," cried Russia on the air. The Shah and the landlords around him are secreting millions of dollars of oil profits in New York and London bank accounts, charged one Communist commentator. At the rate the Shah is now transferring the royal lands to peasants, the job will take 100 years, added another.

This decidedly unpeaceful form of coexistence began two months ago, after Iran signed a defense agreement with the U.S. and broke off negotiations with Russia (TIME, March 9). In a land where millions are illiterate and hard pressed, where autocratic rule suppresses opposition and corruption is widespread, and where the long-term benefits of invested oil royalties are insufficiently visible, Communist lies and half truths so powerfully spread were bound to have an unsettling effect. After holding a special closed session to discuss the Soviet offensive, 48 of Iran's 60 Senators trooped to the Shah's marble palace in Teheran to declare themselves "greatly exercised over the viperous attacks against Your Majesty."

Emboldened by the new pact with the U.S., Iran's government radio and press sassed Moscow back with a bravado unknown in earlier days. To charges that Iranian oil is being exploited by outsiders, Radio Teheran tartly urged Moscow: "Liberate the enslaved Rumanian workers from the claws of Soviet soldiers and hand back the oil to the Rumanian nation. Moscow thinks Iran is a second Rumania, where people have but one freedom—that of dying."

If the Shah's regime is not universally popular, Moscow's personal attack on the ruler led one irate left-wing Teheran lawyer to comment indignantly: "That's for us to do—not Radio Moscow." In fact, the Soviets may have found that their attacks were helping to unite, not divide, a proud and suspicious people.

At week's end, after a private session between a Russian diplomat and the Shah, Moscow abruptly toned down its attacks, and Radio Teheran also let up on the Russians.