UN General Assembly
1980

331. The Islamic revolution in Iran and the downfall of the Shah shattered the classic vision of power in the Middle East and upset the division of the world by the super-Powers into zones of influence. That development was a great threat to the super-Powers, in particular the United States. The Iranian revolution led the United States to lose a loyal gendarme in one of the most sensitive regions of the world bordering on the territory of the other super-Power, namely the Soviet Union. The Shah's regime, which was imposed on the Iranian people, had the duty of safeguarding the interests of imperialism. 332. After the downfall of the ex-Shah, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran opposed having anyone, whether local or foreign, act as a policeman for the region and declared that the security of the area had to be safe-guarded by the countries of the region,