Browse oral history

Interview with Parsons, Sir Anthony

Date

January 30 and March 7, 1985

Location

London, England

Interviewer

Assar (Guppy), Shusha

Language

English

Abstract

Early contacts with Iran; on the events of 1953 and the formation of the Baghdad Pact; on the Shah’s role in resolving the Bahrain issue; Britain’s economic interests in Iran in the 1970s; on Britain’s departure from the Persian Gulf in 1971; Britain’s commercial, industrial and military relations with Iran; recollections of Prime Minister Hoveyda; personal impressions of the Shah and his leadership style; Shah’s view of British policy on Iran; on Iranians’ distrust of the British; recollections of the politicization of university campuses in Iran; on charges of Britain’s complicity in the Iranian Revolution; on Iranian politics in the late 1970s; on various Iranian public figures; on the roots of the Revolution; impressions of Westernization of Iran and its political consequences; assessment of industrial development in Iran; recollections of Iranian politics during the revolutionary upheaval; Shah’s consultations with the interviewee and Ambassador Sullivan; Britain’s position on the Shah’s decision to leave Iran; on the B.B.C.’s alleged role in inciting opposition to the Shah; on Queen Farah.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Transcripts

Sir-Anthony-Parsons-Vol-I Sir-Anthony-Parsons-Vol-II Sir-Anthony-Parsons-Vol-III Sir-Anthony-Parsons-Vol-IIII Sir-Anthony-Parsons-Vol-V

Contents

134pp. + biographical note + index

About the interviewee

Parsons, Sir Anthony

Britain’s Ambassador to Iran, 1974-1978.