As to the threat in the Wall Street Journal advertisement, that the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company would “take all such action as may be necessary to protect its rights in any country” (which presumes to do business with Iranians, one must infer), there seems to be no better way of dumping Iran and all its oil into the lap of the Soviet Union or its satellites.

Perhaps the company’s threat can prevent Iranian oil deliveries to Afghanistan and the Argentine, both of whom are reported dickering with the Iranian Government. But it can hardly do likewise with the Poles and the Czechs, who are said to want immediate delivery of 8,500,000 barrels of crude and to have their own tankers.

Furthermore, reports are that the Soviet Union has recently added 14 new tankers to her Caspian Sea fleet, and to be building both road and rail connections to the southward — probably with her eye on the 20,000 barrels of aviation gasoline which Anglo-Iranian’s refinery at Abadan can produce every day.

If Iran is blocked in selling its nationalized oil in the West, it will undoubtedly attempt to sell to the Soviet orbit, when and if it is able to make foreign commitments. That, of course, waits principally on Iran being able to oust British technicians and to replace them with Swedish, Swiss or German engineers.