Bahaism is a political organization whose organizational structure was formed earlier 20th century in the united states. The expansion of the Baha’is influence and authority during Pahlavi periods of time was gradual and this process was strengthened after Mordad 28, 1332 S.H.
by the increase in the influence of America power in Iran and
during the time when Hoveyda was the prime minister
it increased. During the years prior the revolution, the clergymen
were sensitive with Baha’ism as a made deviant cult. The political and security bonds of Baha’ism caused America and Israel to support this group.
In Azar 1357 S.H., in the midst of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, William Healy Sullivan, the American ambassador in Tehran
sent a nearly detailed report for the American ministry of foreign affairs about the Baha is. The ambassador’s tendentious report which wasn’t the first and the last Sullivan’s report about the Baha’ is conditions in Iran appeared by the report itself created this question: Where is the Baha’ism organization located in the policy of the united states concerning Iran in the conditions during which the ambassador himself writes such a report for the American ministry of foreign affairs? The main purpose of Sullivan is that what policies must be applied at those revolutionary conditions of Iran in order for the Baha’ism organization and members to hurt less. The following notes are worthy to be paid attention:
۱) The circumstances of the Baha’ism organization during the revolution or at least in 1357 S.H. weren’t suitable and it has become better merely after military rule by Gholam Reza Azhari in the fall 1357 S.H. and the American agents were observing the issue.
۲) The religious forces were the most important political opponents of the Shah who were strict against the political organization of Baha’ism.
۳) Pahlavi government started dismissing the Baha’s members influencing on the governmental organization in order to attract the revolutionary forces.
۴) Except for Several Baha’is heads and famous people, the rest left Iran prior the winter 1357 such as Sabet family.
۵) The Baha’is belonged to the lower class of society weren’t successful to leave Iran and during those periods of time asked America for help to be secure against the uprising of Iranian people.
۶) The Baha’is believed that if the revolution were successful, the
conditions of the Baha’is would be unbearable.
۷) The officials of the ministry of foreign affairs such as Cohen and Precht have taken some measures to strengthen the Baha’ism organization which have been confirmed by the ambassador.
۸) Sullivan’s recommendation is that each kind of help by the US government with the Baha’ism organization must be indirect and imperceptible.
۹) One of the suggested methods was threatening the revolutionary forces by the American agents to make them understand that if the Baha’i members are under pressure, it will have negative impact on the revolution trend!
۱۰) It was emphasized that it must be acted cautiously and must repeatedly be said to the revolutionary forces to quit persecuting the
Baha’is.
