Protests sparking curiosity about Iran

In many countries, especially the United States, the large crowds remind many people of the 1979 revolution that topped the former Shah Reza Pahlavi and installed the country's present system of government.

In Taiwan, the video footage reminds many people of the huge street demonstrations that took place in Taipei after accusations of fraud marred the results of the 2004 presidential election.

The vibrancy of the Iranian demonstrations and the sophistication of demonstrators on both sides has helped dispel stereotypical images of Iran and show people here that Iranians are also keenly supportive of democracy.

For now, no one can be sure whether the unrest in Iran might produce some kind of a change in government.

Most experts contend that since ruling and opposition camps both support maintenance of the current system, the outside world should not expect another repeat of the historic events of 1979.

Many people in Taiwan are especially interested in following events in Iran because Taipei and Tehran previously had close relations and there were many connections between Taiwan and Iran.

Before the Shah broke off relations with Taipei in 1971 following the R.O.C.'s expulsion from the United Nations earlier that year, Taiwan and Iran were both close allies of the United States.

Even after Iran cut off relations with the R.O.C., it continued to purchase military equipment from Taiwan up until 1979.

Ironically, the United States recently sold two Kidd-class destroyers to the R.O.C. Navy that were originally built for the Shah's naval forces but never sold because of the 1979 turmoil.

Even after Iran's relations with the United States turned hostile, Taipei and Tehran have maintained friendly, if unofficial, relations.

Trade between Taiwan and Iran has never been cut off and in recent years bilateral economic exchanges have flourished.

Today, Taiwan is a major customer for Iran's exports of oil, importing more than 40 million barrels of Iranian crude in 2007.

In that same year, trade between both sides exceeded US$4 billion, with nearly three-quarters of this amount consisting of Taiwan's imports from Iran.

While the R.O.C. does not maintain a de facto diplomatic representative office in Iran due to that country's relations with Beijing, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council operates a trade office in Tehran that actively promotes bilateral trade and serves as an unofficial conduit for relations between the two governments.

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