This coincided with the “Nixon Doctrine” after the Indochina Wars, when the United States tried to secure American interests in the bipolar system of the Cold War through regional powers. The United States viewed Iran as one of these regional powers. Following this new international order and Iran’s new role, the Shah sought to increase his military and industrial power at this time. Iran’s non-financial capital did not meet the Shah’s plans, and the Shah again became increasingly dependent on the United States in technical and military terms. At that time, a flood of American advisors entered Iran, which aroused negative sensitivities among the Iranian people. Even with the coming to power of Democrat Jimmy Carter in the United States, there was no change in the nature of American policy and the “Nixon Doctrine.” Despite Carter’s emphasis on the issue of human rights and control of arms sales to non-Western allies of the United States, Carter supported the Shah’s leadership and policies, praising him as a “great leader.”
Despite his many efforts to modernize Iran, the Shah’s rule was marked by growing discontent among the population. His aggressive push for modernization often ignored traditional and religious values, alienating large segments of Iranian society. The disparity between the wealthy elite, who benefited from his policies, and the lower classes, who struggled with economic difficulties, became a major source of unrest. His reliance on the secret police, SAVAK, to suppress dissent only fueled opposition to his regime.