Nation: The Shah Is Ill

But his cancer could be cured

God willing, reports of the deposed shah's affliction with cancer are true.'' So said Iran's Ayatullah Ruhollah Khomeini, with his customary generosity to a fallen foe. The reports were indeed correct. Last week Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, 60, flew from his lavish, well-guarded home in exile at Cuernavaca, Mexico, to New York City's LaGuardia Airport on a chartered jet that airline officials had first been told would only be carrying a ''valuable shipment'' from the Bank of Mexico. Weak and frail-looking, the Shah shuffled into a limousine and was then whisked away under tight security to a...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!