IRAN: THE LEFT AND THE WAR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85T00287R000102440001-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 11, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: October 22, 1980
• Content Type: MEMO

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/11 :CIA-RDP85T00287R000102440001-2
,... SECRET
PiEMORANDUM
The Iranian left has taken a .fairly low profile since
the beginning of the war but it is trying to capitalize on
the situation to improve its political position. Leftist
leaders hope to use the war to recover from the damage in-
flicted by the regime during the crackdown on leftist
parties last summer.
The left has already gained some advantages from the
war. The regime's attention has been focused on the battle-
field and the campaign against the left has been at least
temporarily suspended. The confusion of the war and the
diversion of Revolutionary Guards and military forces to the
border has probably made it somewhat easier for the leftists
to operate in Tehran and other large cities.
militia men
from all three major leftist groups--the Piujahedin, Fedayeen,
and the pro-Soviet Tudeh--have taken part in the fighting for
Khorramshahr, Abadan and the other major cities in Khuzestan.
The leftist militias reportedly are working closely with
Revolutionary Guards in the province. '"he leader of the
Tudeh Party's Khuzestan wing reportedly was killed in the
street fighting in Khorramshahr recently and given a well
publicized martyr's funeral near Tehran.
Tudeh Views
The Tudeh's newspaper, Mardom, which was banned last
August, has reappeared. The party line continues to back
the Khomeini regime on all key issues. Party leader Kianuri
Thzs memoran um was prepared by (Southwest
Asia Analytic Center, Near East South Asia Division, Office
of Political Analysis. questions or comments may be addressed
to Deputy Chief, Southwest Asia Analytic Center
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GF.C'RF.T
has publicly urged the regime to form a national unity
government including "all patriots without exception" and
negotiate a formal agreement on cooperation between Muslim
and leftist parties.
Kianuri has also urged the Khomeini regime to improve
ties with the Soviets. He has claimed that DSoscow supports
Iran against Iraq and pointed to the Soviets refusal to date
to initiate a massive military resupply o.f Iraq.
Kianuri has also apparently succeeded in stifling a
challenge to his leadership of the ?'udeh lead by former
party chief Radmanesh. Radmanesh had returned to Iran from
his exile in East Germany three months ago and planned to
lead a campai n to discredit Kianuri's policy of supporting
Khomeini.
We expect that the Tudeh and other leftists will seek to
increase their own efforts to infiltrate the officer corps
in order to prevent a military takeover. The Tudeh in
particular has been working to establish a sizable clan-
destine organization in the military since the fall of the
Shah.
Outlook
The leftists remain badly divided and are still too
weak to challenge the regime directly. If the war goes
badly for Iran, however, the left will seek to take ad-
vantage of the anti-clerical backlash and the economic
dislocations caused by the loss of Khuzestan. In the short
run the leftists are gaining valuable experience in street
fighting and improving their image as defenders of Iran's
national interests.
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