Developments in Iran (Persia). Report by the J.I.C.

concession. There always exists too the possibility of the use of the German ships at Bandar Shahpur or other (neutral) vessels to block the important Rooka Channel. At the same time there are reports of German plans to engineer a coup d'ètat. Any such coup d'ètat would be likely to result in chaos which would lead to a Russian occupation of Northern Iran and necessitate our intervention to protect our oil interests in the South. By thus involving us in a further military commitment, Germany might see advantage in upsetting the existing règime.