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Although the country's rigorous curfew has cramped social life, it did not prevent Jerry Hoagland, manager of the Tehran Inter-Continental Hotel, from throwing a party for Christmas. He simply invited his Christmas dinner guests to stay overnight. Those Americans who do not have 300 spare rooms at their disposal, as does Hoagland, are forced to adjust their schedules accordingly. Says American Vice Consul Michael McNaull: "If you want to give a dinner party, you have to ask people for 5 p.m."
To cope with the swirling rumors, the U.S. embassy in Tehran originally set up a "pyramid system" of communications involving the 450 American corporations doing business in Iran. Key embassy staffers were assigned to pass on news to seven preselected executives, who, in turn, were to call seven of their employees. These employees would then call other members of the American community. But the exodus of Americans (more than 5,000 so far) caused the links in the chain to be broken, and now many firms, like Grumman Corp., have set up their own information networks.
Even before the turbulence, U.S. citizens, particularly those outside Tehran, held themselves aloof from Iranian society, concentrating on their work and mixing almost exclusively with other Americans after hours. In "golden ghettos," like Shahin Shahr, Americans are even more isolated by their impressive salaries (often four times as high as those of Iranians) and comfortable suburban houses that are unpretentious by U.S. standards but lavish in Iranian terms. Within their compounds, Americans enjoy free schooling, recreational facilities, medical clinics, movies and even belly-dancing classes.
Not long ago, in an effort to overcome this insularity, one U.S. firm proposed a 30-to 50-hour orientation course for new employees of 100 American, European and Japanese companies. It would have included elementary Farsi, a brief history of Iran, and a cultural and sociological introduction to the country. Not a single company would agree to underwrite the cost, citing the uncertainties of Iran's economic and political situation. The results are painfully obvious. Says one U.S. economist: "Iranians want to know why Americans don't want to develop roots here. There's a lack of mutual trust."
Economic uncertainty is expected to take a severe toll among Iran-based Americans, no matter what happens politically. U.S. firms anticipated doing $3.8 billion worth of business in Iran this year. That total has been drastically slashed. Last week, for example, the Iranian government canceled a $575 million contract with Bell Helicopter to produce 400 helicopters by 1983. Previously the Shah had decided to postpone a $1.4 billion contract with Grumman and Hughes Aircraft to produce F-14 fighters for his air force. American Bell International, engaged in a ten-year project to provide Iran with a $14 billion telecommunications system, is contemplating a reduction of its American technical staff from 900 to 300. Still, given the size of their investments in Iran, most U.S. businessmen have been inclined to sit tight, and hope against hope. Says a General Electric executive: "There are so many commitments here that it's hard to believe there will be a drastic turnabout."