The Untold Stories of American Influence in Iran’s Pahlavi Era

The book ‘The Rise and Fall of the Pahlavi Dynasty,’ authored by Hossein Fardoust, unveils critical truths that portray a realistic image of the dictatorial regime of the Pahlavi dynasty over the Iranian populace.

According to a reliable source, the Supreme Commander of the Soviet forces issued a stern directive: any of his personnel appearing in public would face severe penalties, including execution. The British were rarely seen, often confined to their clubs, but the Americans presented a starkly different scenario. They operated a club on Amirabad Street specifically for their officers and non-commissioned officers. Each day, every individual received a ration pack sufficient for five to six people. These packs contained a variety of canned goods, vitamin-enriched bread, two bottles of whiskey, and two packs of quality cigarettes.

The Americans swiftly transformed the Amirabad club into a hub of vice. American trucks would arrive in the city center to gather young women, who were eager to participate in this lifestyle, lining up as if waiting for a bus. Open trucks from the U.S. Army would transport 200 to 300 girls at a time. Although the Americans lacked cash, they managed to entice these women with the ration packs. I had acquaintance with someone who frequented the club and noticed that their storage was filled to the ceiling with these packs. Each visit would yield one or two packs, which were highly valued and traded in the market.

One of the individuals who frequented the American club was the aunt of Mohammad Reza, who would later become the Shah of Iran. Another acquaintance was an Armenian girl, whose father was a hardworking laborer. I engaged in conversations with both of them, expressing my disapproval of their actions, likening their behavior to that of street prostitutes. However, Mohammad Reza’s aunt boldly insisted that those at the club were of their social standing and that there was nothing inappropriate about their actions.