Castro Compares U.S. to Shah, Predicts Demise
Cuban leader Fidel Castro told Iranians that the United States was an “imperialist king” that would fall just as the U.S.-backed Shah of Iran fell in the 1979 revolution.
“You destroyed the strongest gendarme of the region not with guns, but with your thoughts--and the people of the region should thank you for that,” Castro said in a speech at Tehran University. “However, this imperialist king will finally fall, just as your king was overthrown.”
The audience of about 700 students, teachers and officials rose to its feet, clapping and chanting “Fidel! Fidel! Fidel!”
Shortly before, Castro received an honorary doctorate for his struggle against the United States from the nearby Teachers’ Training University.
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