First Published: The Call, Vol. 8, No. 47, December 10, 1979.
Transcription, Editing and Markup: Paul Saba
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The Central Committee of the Communist Party (M-L) reaffirms its full support for the revolutionary struggle of the Iranian people at this hour of crisis.
The fight currently being waged for the return of the criminal shah is a just fight. The shah was installed in power by the U.S., which overthrew the nationalist democratic government of Dr. Mossadegh. Under the shah’s dictatorship, more than 100,000 Iranian people were murdered. He was instrumental in plundering the wealth of Iran. He earned the hatred of his people, who arose and overthrew him in February 1979.
The present crisis was provoked by the actions of the U.S. government, which, in allowing the shah into the U.S., committed a direct affront to the Iranian people. The question of the shah’s health is irrelevant and is a mere ploy to permit continued U.S. interference in Iran’s affairs. The shah was brought into the U.S. by David Rockefeller and Henry Kissinger who manage the shah’s stolen billions.
The U.S. imperialists must bear the full responsibility for the actions which have since transpired. The anger which the people of Iran hold for U.S. imperialism and the shah is fully justified.
The U.S. imperialists are attempting to utilize the present situation in several ways:
First, to try to discredit the Iranian Islamic Revolution and to turn world public opinion against it, in hopes of gaining international sanction for continued interference.
Second, to promote fascist and racist hysteria against Iranians among the American people, thus diverting our attention from the real crisis which confronts us at home.
Third, to enforce new economic attacks against the American people, especially by raising again the price of petroleum products under the pretext that the Iranian people have caused the alleged “shortage.”
Finally, the Iran situation underscores the danger of world war. The two superpowers have never ceased in their efforts to derail, slander and subvert the Iranian revolution in that rich and strategically vital area of the world. Thus, the fight against superpower hegemonism and in defense of the sovereignty of Iran is a component part of the fight to defend world peace.
The CPML stands resolutely in defense of the democratic rights of Iranian nationals in the U.S. and against Carter’s fascistic “special registration” orders which are reminiscent of the registration of German Jews and the internment of Japanese Americans.
The special registration and deportation order encourages racist pogroms not only against Iranian residents but against all immigrant peoples, especially those from third world countries. All working people must take a stand against this attack on our multinational working class.
All Americans should oppose this order as a menace to our democratic rights. It is a use of deportation as a political weapon to suppress freedom of speech and association. We call on all progressive people to render every assistance to Iranian residents in the U.S. and to defend them against the lynch-mob attacks being whipped up against them.
The Iranian Revolution was the product of a long, heroic struggle by the entire Iranian people to throw off the chains of U.S. domination and the Shah’s dictatorship. It was a grave blow to U.S. imperialism and superpower hegemon ism and thus to the common enemy of the peoples of the U.S. and Iran. The defense of the progressive gains of the Iranian revolution, especially its national independence, is fully compatible with the interests of the U.S. working class and· progressive people of all nationalities.
We will oppose, militantly and vigilantly, any threat by the U.S. to aggress against Iran, now or in the future; or to punish the Iranian nationals, especially our comrades in struggle here in the U.S., or the revolutionary struggles of their compatriots at home.
Adopted by the CPML Central Committee, Dec. 1, 1979