Iranians Start Work Stoppage; Oil Revenues Fall Substantially

TEHRAN--Thousands of oil workers launched a new round of work slowdowns Monday, further endangering Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi's position by diminishing Iran's all-important oil revenue, sources said today.

In Tehran, three days of anti-government protests appeared to be winding down although young protesters set a bank on fire and an urban guerilla band attacked a police station, killing one officer and wounding another.

The government reported that its troops have killed 17 persons and wounded 50 in Tehran and in the Southern city of Isfahan since the latest violence on Friday night.

The opposition is made up of both orthodox moslems who want to reverse the Shah's Westernization of this traditional Islamic society, and political dissidents who want to end his authoritarian rule.

Slowdown

Sources say the new slowdown immediately cut Iran's daily oil production by 2 million barrels, one-third of the normal level.

Last month a 15 day strike cost the national treasury more than $1 billion in lost revenue.

The state-run National Iranian Oil Co. was just beginning to restore normal production when hit by Monday's job action.

One militant who identified himself only as Hassan said "The shah is the enemy of the people and of Islam. We will kill all who support him."