A Man of Diplomacy

In books presented to the market under the concept of Oral History there is little trace of any book which is based on accepted standards close to oral history. “Revolution & Diplomacy in Memoirs of Seyyed Mohammad Sadr” is a book which contains invaluable information on the events of Islamic Revolution and first years of revolution in governmental structure.
One of the key features of this book is that it narrates critical events of revolution and beginning of war from a diplomatic perspective which he has witnessed close by and has been relatively involved in some decisions made and some events which have taken place. These narratives are importance since many witnesses of these events are either martyrs or are not among us anymore.
The book includes memoirs of Seyyed Mohammad Sadr from birth to the end of his tenure as the General Director of Europe and USA affairs in MFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) in 1985 which is designed in seven chapters. The narrator at the beginning introduces himself and provides a brief biography which assists readers to know him and judge the valuable information provided later on a strong basis.
In the second chapter, political activities of Seyyed Mohammad Sadr during his study and dominant political situation, the operation of intelligence service at universities and political establishments and Student’s Resistance Groups during the end years of Pahlavi are narrated.
The third chapter presents induction of the narrator with Mujahidin Organizations and his relation with two key features of this organization, Mohammad Hossein Akbari Ahangar and Mohammad Hayati and provides their political perspective and strategies to the reader.
Fourth chapter includes the memoirs of military services and consequently the key events during two last years of Pahlavi regime which pertain the demonstration of September 8, 1978 and kidnapping of Imam Mousa Sadr and efforts of the Islamic Republic to return him from Libya during presidency of Mohammad Khatami.
The narrator in chapter five expresses his memories after the revolution and analyzes the process of election of Bazargan, the political ambiance in universities and the fact that Mujahidin were fighting to have a share in that.
In chapter six narrates his activities under the government of Prime Minister Rajayi, also some information on the election of Bani Sadr as the president, his disagreements with Rajayi, domestic and international position of the prime minister and performance of Rajayi during his tenure are included.
The last chapter which is in great detail pertain the activities of Seyyed Mohammad Sadr in MFA as the General Director of Europe and USA, the two continents which had critical importance in international relations and political interactions. Despite the fact that after Revolution Iran didn’t have and extended relation with countries of these two continents, political actions and reactions against those countries were very sensitive and critical. In this chapter the narrator explains his involvement in MFA, policy making, diplomatic relations with regards to imposed war, escape of Bani Sadr, relation of Iran with Russian, England, USA and Eastern Block which provide an illuminating image of the diplomatic relations of Iran with other countries in a sensitive era of history.
Other feature of this book is that it also contains some events and provides names in footnotes which are very important information for the reader to connect with the memories and events within the revolution.
In the attachments, the scholar provides references he has used, some papers of the former intelligence service (SAVAK) regarding interrogation of the narrator and pictures of childhood of Seyyed Mohammad Sadr.
Revolution and Diplomacy in the memoirs of Seyyed Mohammad Sadr lives up to the standards of oral history however it has not been able to fulfill the expectations of those who are willing to hear the untold of war and revolution. A diplomat like him with his family history and political history before the revolution who has always been involved in political mainstreams and even after revolution is a key feature who surely has many new things to say. However, some of those stories might have been withheld due to security and diplomatic concerns and on the other hand to prove any claims requires documents to be published by MFA.
Hence, Revolution and Diplomacy might be the first edition of the memoirs of Seyyed Mohammad Sadr, and some other books will be published to cover his story from 1985.

By: Nataly Haghverdian