Re-visiting the 1973 Oil Embargo

When the oil supply was disrupted in 1973, the Western world was shaken. The oil embargo was the brainchild of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto (ZAB) and Shah Faisal (SF), who were assisted by Mian Anwar Ali, the economic adviser to the Saudi monarch, and Ahmed Sakkaf, the foreign minister. In the United States, transport was stranded on the freeways as the pumps ran dry. President Jimmy Carter apologized to the nation for this colossal oversight of his government. The ZAB and SF team brought the superpowers to their knees. For the first time, the power of oil was tested, and it worked. Then came the 1974 OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) summit in Lahore, where the Ummah was unified. The Shah of Iran hesitated but did send his Prime Minister to attend, as his honeymoon with the West was under strain at that juncture. To get Bangladesh on board, Pakistan recognized the division of Jinnah’s Pakistan. Sheikh Mujib-ur-Rehman arrived despite the Jamaat-e-Islami protests.

ZAB’s historic speech is inscribed at the intersection of Charing Cross. It was during this moot that the concept of the Islamic Bomb, led by Pakistan and funded by our Arab brethren, was developed. There was no looking back. In those days, there were three worlds: First, Second and Third. Included in the First World were the developed countries that had both resources and the technology to harness them. The Second World had resources but lacked technical know-how, like our Arab brothers, who were dependent on the West for the exploration of their oil reserves. Countries like Pakistan, which neither had natural resources nor the knowledge to extract them, were termed Third World countries. Most African countries were bracketed here. ZAB then announced a summit of Third World countries to unify them. In addition to ‘Quaid-e-Awam’, he was also given the title of ‘Tesri Dunya kay Quaid’ (Leader of the Third World or the downtrodden). He had crossed the line together with SF. It was decided to punish them for rocking the world order that only suited the rich and powerful nations. First, it was the assassination of the Saudi monarch through palace intrigue, followed by the two advisers. ZAB was the last to fall in 1979. Fortunately, despite the initial hiccups by the new regime in Islamabad, the Nuclear Programme survived, and Pakistan joined the club of exclusive nations powered by the Atomic Bomb.

Iran changed after the Islamic Revolution of 1979. The fall of the Shah was a big blow for the Western powers. In order to ensure the flow of oil, the USA decided to establish military bases throughout the Middle East. Iran, the only democracy in the Middle East after Israel, was declared an enemy. Our Palestinian brothers were hounded by the Zionists, and no one had the courage to even raise a voice for them. After taking control of the Venezuelan oil reserves, President Donald Trump decided to go for Iran, but the plan misfired. The 1973 Oil Embargo is back with a bang, despite all the foreign bases and friendly regimes installed by Lawrence of Arabia and the CIA.

Allama Iqbal had predicted the rise of the Chinese nation. He used the words ‘Tamasha of the Madari’ (a trick of the street performer). He could sense the rising temperatures of the waters of the fountains of the Himalayas. Inspired by his thoughts, Dr Ali Shariati prepared the framework for the revolution in Iran. This is the Chinese century. Personally, I also see an Islamic resurgence led by Iran by the middle of the century. The elimination of ZAB and SF derailed the challenge posed by the Oil Embargo of 1973, but the same formula failed in 2026 with the martyrdom of Imam Ali Khamenei. The Iranian Revolution of 1979, led by Imam Ruhollah Khomeini, like the Chinese uprising of 1949, led by Chairman Mao Tse Tung, remains on track. The Middle East is bracing for change. The tables have turned. The future of both Trump and Netanyahu hangs in the balance, with elections around the corner. Let us salute our fallen comrades who dared to challenge the imposed hegemony on our resources. They were all here in 1973 and prayed together at the historic Badshahi Mosque for the unity of the Ummah. It seems that their prayers have finally been answered. In the words of Iqbal: “Dunya ha Teri Muntazar ay Roz e Magafat” (The world awaits the Day of Judgement). The Chinese have already risen; now the rise of a unified Ummah is awaited. A new world order is in the making. The ‘Tamasha’ is finally coming to an end.