CONFIDENTIAL
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Shapour Bakhtiar, National Froint
John Stempel, Political Officer, U.S. Embassy Tehran
DATE & PLACE: Septembter 24, 1978 - Iran Sokna Apartments
SUBJECT: National Front Moderate on Iranian Policies
DISTRIBUTION:AMB/DCM, POL, POL/M, ECON, OR, USIS, BIO, DAO, NEA/IRN, INR/RNA, INR/OIL/B, AMCONSUL ISFAHAN
A close contact of U.S. Consul McGaffey had ordered to set up a meeting between a National Front figure and an Embassy officer. When Stempel arrived at the appointed rendezvous. Dr. Bakhtiar introduced himself. There were not others present. Bakhtiar said it was important to have contacts with the Americans even if they would not agree on many things. It was important for the Americans to realize that the opposition has no confidence in the Shah. When Stempel pressed Bakhtiar as to whether the National Front would participate in parliamentary elections next year. Bakhtiar replied that this would not be possible unless there was freedom to discuss problems and to organize. "We need six months of freedom, not extreme freedom, but at least the right to meet and organize." He said if this is not done leadership of the opposition would pass to the fanatics. Martial Law was unnecessary because it hindered the organizational process and it was not really necessary to maintain public order.
Relations within the National Front: In response to a question, Bakhtiar described the Front as a group of pretty independent people. He said that he and Dr. Karim Sanjabi and Dariush Forouhar had not advocated violence and cooperation with the religious fanatics. Eng. Bazargan, on teh other hand, and his group had cooperated fully with religious individuals associated with Khomeini and Shariatmadari. Bazargan mixed politics and religion, and negotiations with his group had fallen apart because he had allowed his friends to push him toward the religious group. Bakhtiar said the Front would make common cause with any organizations except the Communists and the Free Masons, who were not like the Free Masons he respected in America and France. Bakhtiar thought the reconstituted National Front could make common cause with more moderate religious elements and that this was the only hope to develop a massive following for social democracy.
Political Situation Now: He described National Front press coverage in France and Britain as good—much more satisfactory than
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