IRANIAN+HOSTAGE+CRISIS+-+DAVID+L.+AARON

Steven Naughton David L. Aaron: Deputy National Security Advisor to President Jimmy Carter Arundel High School January 18, 2014

Topic 1: The Iranian Revolution

Recent tensions in the country of Iran have resulted in the plausible worrying of an upcoming revolution. This produces a large amount of fear across the globe due to their geopolitical significance and recent radical behavior. Before the rise in power of Ayatollah Khomeini, Iran was considered a close ally with the United States and served as a great asset. Khomeini has planted anti-western ideals in the young minds of Iran to serve as his political pawns and increase his power. His constant feuding with the Shah, has multiplied tensions in Iran and caused uprisings and causalities all over. This creates issues concerning the United States due to our close ties with the Shah, yet tensions with the Ayatollah. The United States of America must take action defending the Shah and his regime without: birthing yet another proxy war with Russia in Iran, getting too involved, jeopardizing more American lives directly in the war, and allowing everyday Iranian lives and businesses to fall through. The United States must take action simply by supporting the Shah and his regime with capital and other necessary resources, and possibly placing economic sanctions on the Ayatollah and his war effort.
 * INTRODUCTION**

The current issue at hand is the Iranian Revolution as a result of conflicting opinions between Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Ruhollah Khomeini; the Shah and the Ayatollah. When the Shah had full control over Iran, he was close allies with the US and promoted western ideals such as: women's voting rights, education required for all, and companies owned nationally. Many opposition groups began to rise and attempt to maintain traditional Iranian beliefs through violence. When an early protest was dispersed in Qom by the military, the causalities of student protesters sparked more anger and protests across the nation. In order to calm Iran and escape potential danger, the Shah fled the country. With the Shah in exile, the Prime Minister invited Khomeini back from exile who assumed power by displacing this pro-western Prime Minister and supporting anti-western radicals. Although the Shah's regime has yet to be displaced from the national government, Khomeini gains more power and support everyday. Recent uprisings have been prominent and extreme. The most recent has concerned itself directly with the United States of America when the radicals invaded the US embassy and captured 90 American hostages.
 * THE ISSUES**

The revolution in Iran is pivotal to the future of the United States. If the Ayatollah does succeed in the overthrow of the Iranian government much will be jeopardized. During the ongoing Cold War, it is our duty to promote democratic values across the globe and guide countries to that future. If Khomeini has all power, their country will have the exact opposite form of government. In addition to their political status, Iran serves as a strategic ally for the US geographically due to their close proximity to the Soviet Union. If the Shah loses his power, we will lose our close ally and that connection. Lastly, our trade and economic relations will fall in tandem with Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's power, if the opposition groups are successful in their revolution. Along with other important countries, the United States relies on Iran for trade, economic growth, its presence within the close vicinity of the USSR, and much more. All of these will depreciate substantially if the Iranian Revolution is successful.
 * EFFECT ON AMERICA**

In order to preserve this relationship with the Shah and his regime without involving ourselves in direct war, we must financially aid the Shah. We must lend him capital to strengthen his lethargic cause and aid him in calming the radical behavior of the Ayatollah and his inspired opposition groups. We must also look at the possibility of an economic sanction of Khomeini to weaken his radical behavior and suppress his resources. Ultimately this is all we must do, we must not engage in direct war. Not only will the war hinder prior commitments of the US and possibly gamble the lives of US military, it will throw gasoline in the fire in Iran and cause an impediment upon everyday Iranian lives. A war in Iran will result in more chaos and destruction than ever before, obliviously dropping obstacles on everyday Iranian businesses, industries, and lives. Lastly, if Khomeini does not comply, he must be removed from office immediately to weaken the morale and support of his opposition groups.
 * SOLUTION**

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Steven Naughton David L. Aaron: Deputy National Security Advisor to President Jimmy Carter Arundel High School January 21, 2014

Topic 2: The Iranian Hostage Crisis

Prior to the Iranian radical Revolution on November 4, 1979, all American actions in the Iranian crises were based on second-hand involvement; this has now changed. On this date, Iranian radical college students protested outside of the US embassy. Their tempers flared when word got out that the United States allowed the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, to enter the country for treatment of lymphoma. To the protesters this was a clear display on the United States part of where their loyalty lied, which is when they then proceeded to break into the embassy and capture 90 US citizens, 66 of which who were government officials. This has transported the United States over into a situation in which we are now directly involved in. Instead of coming to a decision on how we should intervene based on economic issues and geopolitical positions, we must now make a decision for the safety of our entire country and the captured citizens at the US embassy in Iran. In order to efficiently solve this issue, while still attempting to maintain our connections with the Shah and not engage in full on war, we must quickly handle this situation diplomatically and address it sternly, but in a safe manor.
 * INTRODUCTION**

The current issue at hand is the capture of American citizens and mistreatment of them by opposition groups in Iran under the reign of Khomeini. Tensions have increased as the power-duel between the pro-Western Shah and anti-western Ayatollah has become more prominent. The United States, and many other countries, remained loyal to Shah, but did not interfere with domestic issues in Iran. The Ayatollah's power became increasingly strong with the support of radicals and opposition groups resulting in the exile of the Shah. With the Shah in desperate need of medical assistance, the US allowed him to enter the country in order to treat him of his illness and in worry of his well-being. Opposition groups were already protesting outside the US Embassy due to political ties with the Shah, but when word got out on November 4, 1979 that the US was housing Mohammad and treating him, they attacked the embassy and captured 90 US members. This hostage crisis in Iran has now become a direct problem to the United States of America.
 * THE ISSUES**

The Iranian Hostage Crisis impacts the United States for obvious reasons due to its direct relation to us. This entire crisis has put the entire United States government in a terrifying position and has sent fear down the backs of most American citizens. The government must now attempt to make a decision that will: weaken the Ayatollah and his supporting groups, preserve prior bonds with Iran, and successfully rescue United States captives quickly without jeopardizing any of their lives or the risk of a direct war with Iran. If nothing is done soon, it could not only gamble our connections for trade, a country near the USSR for strategy, and another ally, but the lives of American citizens in this current crisis, and possibly future crises.
 * EFFECT ON AMERICA**

To address the Iranian Hostage Crisis in the most efficient, safe, and ideal way possible we must realize that whatever route of resolution we may choose, we must be hard-headed and budget time efficiently. One of the main components in our solution plan is also to avoid war at all costs and create a diplomatic solution. We must immediately dive into this issue by meeting with Khomeini in the hopes of diplomatic resolutions to releasing the captives and order the revival of all American-Iranian treaties stripped by the Ayatollah. If Khomeini refuses to comply, we must respond in such a way of freezing the Iranian banks and placing other economic sanctions on them. If the Ayatollah continues to not respond with refusal to compromise, then the United States must unfortunately take drastic measures and end former alliances with Iran. This serious action must then be followed up by more hindrances upon the Iranian government such as embargo and attempting to have allied countries place economic sanctions upon Iran. Ultimately, the anti-Western Iranian powers must be weakened until they cooperate and release the capture citizens.
 * SOLUTION**