Just a friendly gesture
For months the Soviet Union has been gaining a long-coveted foothold in Iran. In mid-October the ruling Islamic Republic Party accepted Moscow's offer to send agents to Iran to strengthen Tehran's intelligence and security forces, as well as bolster the Islamic Guard, the I.R.P.'s military arm. Another Soviet team was dispatched to assist in rebuilding the country's devastated economy. Now the Soviets, in their boldest ploy to date, are pressing Iran to sign a mutual cooperation pact that would effectively draw Khomeini's revolutionary government into Moscow's sphere of influence.
The proposal was first made during a Nov. 18...