Iran Iraq Forces Clash At Mehran Border
After Iran forces seized the triplet islands in 1971, Iraq military movements accelerated at the borderline and sporadic confrontations between the armed forces of the two countries began. These clashes were mostly attributed to the military cooperation agreement between Iran and USSR, as a muscle flexing arena for east and west. However Feb, 10, 1974 was the scene of heavy artillery exchanges at Mehran. The date was marked as the bloody Sunday. Iraq quickly submitted a complaint with the UN, claiming that Iran had seized 5 km/sq of its soil and was planning a general attack on Iraq. Iran invited UN representatives to inspect the region of dispute. On Feb, 28, the UN security council sent envoys to the region to investigate the issue. Finally, with the UNSC draft #348, a ceasefire was decided on March, 7 and was fully implemented the following day. On Jan, 16, 1975, committees from both countries met in Istanbul where negotiations took place for four days without reaching an agreement. (Updated: Feb, 1, 2008)
Khosrau Golesorkhi Executed
Khosrau Golesorkhi and his comrade Keramat Daneshian were executed in Tehran to become one of the most unforgettable icons of the Iranian leftists. Khosrau Golesorkhi was born in Rasht on Jan, 23, 1945. After his father died, he moved to Qom with his mother and later came to Tehran. His tendencies towards left got him involved in one of the communist groups banned by the Pahlavi regime. After his arrest and a long prosecution that was broadcast on public TV, he was sentenced to death. He was a talented poet who inspired many other poets and songwriters later. He started his defense at the court with these lines that had a share in public uprising against the dictator's regime:
"These are the tall pines
that sing amorously
in the middle of the jungle
the current green song of joining
to the people of the city.
Not your eyes, you better than the pine jungle
are now naked against the ax
with the green of your tree of chaos
This green mourner of the spring
this hanging black outfit,
does it somehow relate
to this land?
The one who made my soil mournful
Did he break
after carrying so much booty?
…" (Updated: Feb, 22, 2008)
Kissinger Visits Tehran
Henry Kissinger, the U.S. secretary of foreign affairs visited Tehran. One day after his arrival Mohammad Reza Shah announced that the price of crude oil must not rise. This statement showed that Kissinger's first goal from the mission was achieved.
The second issue was Iraq which had close ties with the Soviets and thus a threat to the U.S. and her allies. In his memoires, Kissinger stated that Shah accepted to help Americans supply the Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq after Americans promised to supply F-14 jets. U.S. bought Russian made arms from Israel which were seized during the Arab-Israel wars and sent them to the Kurdish rebels through Iran. Shah gradually became the link between the Kurdish leader Barzani and Washington.
However, in a meeting on Feb, 18, 1975, Shah told Kissinger that he planned to settle issues with Iraq. The fact that Iran and Iraq reached an agreement on border issues drew an ire in Washington and Kissinger's frequent visits to Iran came to an end. (Updated: Jan, 7, 2009)
The Roof Collapsed At Mehrabad Airport
An accident at Mehrabad International airport in Tehran killed at least 17 and injured tens of passengers and their relatives. It was announced that heavy snow was the cause of this accident. Abolhasan Ebtehaj who was the executive manager at the ministry of Planning and budget at the time the building was constructed had already been charged with misconduct and was arrested. (Updated: Dec, 6, 2007)
English-Persian Glossary
- Khosrau Golesorkhi : خسرو گلسرخي(Khosro Golesorkhy)

- Keramat Daneshian : کرامت دانشيان
- International : بين المللي

- Washington : واشنگتن

- Kissinger : کيسينجر
- Reza Shah : رضا شاه(Sardar Sepah, Reza Gholdor) رضا خان

- Istanbul : استانبول(Islambul)
- Mehrabad : مهرآباد

- Russian : روسي

- Ebtehaj : ابتهاج
- Pahlavi : پهلوي(Pahlevi)

- Khosrau : خسرو(Osores)

- Airport : فرودگاه

- Barzani : برزاني
- Iranian : ايراني اهل ايران ، وابستهبه ايران

- Kurdish : کرد

- Border : مرز

- Tehran : تهران(Teheran, Tahran) طهران

- Israel : اسراييل فلسطين اشغالي

- Mehran : مهران
- Rasht : رشت

- Shah : شاه پادشاه

- Iran : ايران

- Iraq : عراق(Al Aragh)

- Arab : عرب
- USSR : اتحاد جماهير شوروي(Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.))
- Reza : رضا

- Qom : قم(Ghom)

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