187. Telegram 2642 From the Embassy in Iran to the Department of State

The Embassy highlighted topics that the Shah would be likely to raise during the Presidential visit.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 7 US/NIXON. Secret; Exdis.

188. Telegram 2641 From the Embassy in Iran to the Department of State

In the last of a series of telegrams prior to the President’s visit, the Embassy offered an assessment of Iran’s importance to the United States.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 7 US/NIXON. Secret; Exdis.

189. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs to President Nixon

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Country Files, Middle East, Iran, Box 602, Vol. IV, 9/1/71–4/73. Confidential. A note on the memorandum indicates that the President saw it. The attached memorandum, April 27, is not published.

190. Memorandum From the Director of Central Intelligence (Helms) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Helms forwarded to Kissinger the substance of Kermit Roosevelt’s recent conversation with the Shah, which they had agreed would be passed only to the White House.

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Executive Registry Files, Job 80B01086A, Box 1, Executive Registry Subject Files, I–13 Iran. Secret; Sensitive. The memorandum is a copy that bears Helms’ typed signature with an indication that he signed the original.

191. Telegram 2774 From the Embassy in Iran to the Department of State

The Embassy offered guidance on whether the President should raise the issue of narcotics during his Iranian visit.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, SOC 11–5 IRAN. Confidential; Exdis. Repeated to Kabul, Ankara, and Islamabad.

192. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rogers to President Nixon

Rogers submitted to Nixon a summary of the Shah’s concerns and recommended themes the President might wish to touch upon in Iran.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Presidential Trip Files, Box 479, Briefing Book, Visit of Nixon to Iran, May 1972. Secret. The attached briefing book is not published.

193. Telegram 2890 From the Embassy in Iran to the Department of State

The new Ambassador, Joseph S. Farland, provided the Department with a list of the Shah’s latest requests for his airforce.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 7 US/NIXON. Secret; Limdis. Repeated to the Department of Defense and USCINCEUR

194. Memorandum From Harold Saunders and Samuel Hoskinson of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Saunders and Hoskinson supplied Kissinger with background material for the President’s Iran visit.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Presidential Trip Files, Box 479, Briefing Book, Visit of Nixon to Iran, May 1972. Top Secret/Codeword/Talent-Keyhole. Sent for information. Tab A and Tab B (on Iraq only) are Documents. Tabs B (on Syria), C, D, and E were attached, but are not published.

195. Memorandum From the Deputy Secretary of Defense (Rush) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Rush provided Kissinger with talking papers on the Defense Department position on the Shah’s military requests.

Source: Washington National Records Center, OASD Files, (C) (A), FRC 330–77–0094, Iran 1972, Iran 452. Confidential.

196. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon

Kissinger gave the President a briefing packet on his upcoming talks with the Shah.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 481, Presidential Trip Files, Iran Visit. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for Action. Tab B is published as Document 185. Tabs C and D were not published. A stamp on the document indicated “the President has seen.” In the margin of page 3, tab A, next to a paragraph on the U.S. naval force in the Persian Gulf, the President wrote, “K—increase it.”

197. Hakto 46 Message From Winston Lord and Peter Rodman of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig)

Lord and Rodman attached a memo from Peter Flannigan describing the current state of oil discussions between the Shah and the oil consortium, and recommended talking points.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 481, Presidential Trip Files, Iran Visit (Cherokee) [pt. 1]. Secret; Flash.

198. Memorandum From Samuel Hoskinson of the National Security Council Staff and the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig) to Winston Lord and Peter Rodman of the National Security Council Staff

Hoskinson and Haig forwarded a memorandum from Peter Flanigan on Nixon’s possible oil discussions with the Shah for Kissinger.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 481, Presidential Trip Files, Iran Visit (Cherokee) [pt. 1]. Secret. A note on the first page indicates that the document was sent to Kissinger in Moscow on May 27.

199. Telegram 3166 From the Embassy in Iran to the Embassy in Moscow

Ambassador Farland updated the President on the status of talks between the Iranian Government and the consortium on the issue of participation.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, PET 3 OPEC. Secret. Immediate. Repeated Immediate to the Department of State.

200. Memorandum of Conversation

The Shah, President Nixon, and his Assistant for National Security Affairs, Kissinger, discussed the Moscow Summit and its significance to the Middle East.

Source: Library of Congress, Kissinger Papers, Box TS–28, Kissinger Telcons, Geopolitical Files, Iran, Memcons, Notebook 30 May 72–15 September 73. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The conversation took place in the Saadabad Palace in Tehran. According to Henry Kissinger’s memoirs, the President during this visit also agreed that, “without American support, the existing Kurdish uprising against the Baghdad Government would collapse. American participation [in the effort to aid the Kurdish insurgency] in some form was needed to maintain the morale of such key allies as Iran and Jordan…” (Kissinger, Years of Renewal, pp. 582–3.) No record of this conversation was found.

201. Memorandum of Conversation

The Shah, President Nixon, and his Assistant for National Security Affairs, Kissinger, talked about regional problems, notably the Arab-Israeli conflict, and concluded with Nixon’s pledge to furnish Iran with laser bombs and F–14s and F–15s.

Source: Library of Congress, Kissinger Papers, Box TS–28, Kissinger Telcons, Geopolitical Files, Iran, Memcons, Notebook 30 May 72–15 September 73, Box TS–28. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The conversation took place in the Saadabad Palace in Tehran.

202. Telegram 3254 From the Embassy in Iran to the Department of State

The Embassy transmitted a copy of the joint U.S.-Iranian communiqué released following the President’s visit.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL US/NIXON. Unclassified. Also sent to the White House and Bonn. Repeated to Amman, Ankara, Dhahran, Islamabad, Jidda, Kuwait City, New Delhi, Tel Aviv, Geneva, Beirut, Kabul, and Moscow. On June 6, Kissinger conveyed a message from President Nixon to the Shah, thanking him for Nixon’s recent visit and informing him that former Treasury Secretary John Connally would be dispatched to Iran in early July to continue U.S.-Iranian discussions. (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 425, Backchannel, Backchannel Messages, Middle East, 1972.)

203. Intelligence Note RNAN–18 Prepared in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research

The Bureau of Intelligence and Research’s report on “Iran: Internal Dissidence—A Note of Warning” noted that the bombings in Tehran during Nixon’s visit were part of a broader pattern.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 23–8 IRAN. Secret; Controlled Dissem. Drafted by Maher; approved by Jones.

204. Memorandum From Harold Saunders of the National Security Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Saunders offered Kissinger a record of the specific commitments for military hardware that Nixon had made to the Shah while in Tehran, and the Shah’s interpretation of those pledges.

Source: Library of Congress, Kissinger Papers, Box CL–152, Iran Chronological File. Secret. Sent for action. Tab A is published as Document 205.

205. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to Secretary of State Rogers and Secretary of Defense Laird

Kissinger provided Rogers and Laird with a summary of the commitments the President had made to the Shah.

Source: Library of Congress, Kissinger Papers, Box CL–152, Iran Chronological File. Secret.

206. Memorandum From Harold Saunders of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

The Iranian Foreign Minister had been alarmed by reports that a Congressman was recommending that the executive agreements governing the Azores and Bahrain naval facilities be replaced by treaties.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1282, Saunders Files, Middle East Negotiations, Iran 6/1/72–9/30/72. Confidential. Saunders submitted the memorandum to Kissinger for possible submission in the President’s Saturday Briefing of June 24. Attached, but not published, was telegram 3780 from Tehran, June 22.

207. Intelligence Note RECN–15 Prepared in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research

An INR report, “OPEC Opens Oil Ministers’ Meeting in Atmosphere of Uncertainty,” explained the settlement which Iran had reached with the consortium.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, PET 3 OPEC. Confidential; No Foreign Dissem. Drafted by Leo F. Cecchini, Jr. Approved by John F. L. Ghiardi.

208. Memorandum From Harold Saunders of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Saunders submitted a recommended Presidential telegram for the Shah, congratulating him for the way he had conducted the recent negotiations with the oil consortium.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1282, Saunders Files, Middle East Negotiations, Iran 6/1/72–9/30/72. Confidential. Sent for action. Tab B is not published. A handwritten note by Kissinger reads “I signed off for Pres. HK”

209. Backchannel Message From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to the Former Secretary of the Treasury (Connally)

Kissinger sent Connally a background paper and talking points for his upcoming meeting with the Shah of Iran.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 425, Backchannel, Backchannel Messages, Middle East, 1972. Secret. Haig signed the memo for Kissinger. The memorandum was sent to the Embassy in Singapore for Connally through Hoskinson. The source text is the White House message as approved for transmission. The separate message on the Kurdish problem was not found, but it is clear from previous and subsequent documentation that Connally was instructed to confirm U.S. willingness to cooperate with the Shah in aiding the Kurds.

210. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon

Reminding the President of his promises to the Shah of military equipment, Kissinger forwarded the Defense Department’s suggestions for fulfilling them.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 602, Country Files, Middle East, Iran, Vol. IV, 9/1/71–4/73. Secret. Sent for action. Kissinger approved for the President. The document date is either July 5 or after, since the Department of Defense memorandum to which Kissinger refers (not published) was sent on that date. The decision memorandum, which was approved by Kissinger for Nixon, is not published.

211. Memorandum From Harold Saunders of the National Security Council Staff to President Nixon

Saunders briefed the President for talks with former Treasury Secretary John B. Connally by summarizing Connally’s recent discussions with the Shah.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1282, Saunders Files, Middle East Negotiations, Iran 6/1/72–9/30/72. Secret. According to the President’s Daily Diary, the President dined with Connally on July 13 at the San Clemente Compound residence. (Ibid., White House Central Files, Staff Members and Office Files, President’s Daily Diary, June 1, 1972–July 31, 1972.) No other record of the meeting was found.

212. Memorandum From Harold Saunders of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Saunders conveyed the recommendation from Ambassador Farland that the United States cease discouraging Iran from overspending on military items, to the detriment of U.S. arms suppliers.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 602, Country Files, Middle East, Iran, Vol. IV, 9/1/71–4/73. Top Secret; Sensitive. A handwritten note on the memorandum reads “Haig and HAK sent with addition of sentence pencilled on draft at Tab A. 7/17/72. No further action required.” The additional pencilled sentence at the end of the first paragraph of Tab A reads, “In short, it is not repeat not our policy to discourage Iranian arms purchases.” Next to the addition was a handwritten note, “Change added by HAK.” Tab A is the backchannel message as submitted by the White House for transmission.

213. Telegram 4274 From the Embassy in Iran to the Department of State

The Ambassador transmitted a record of former Treasury Secretary Connally’s conversation with the Shah during his visit as a special envoy to Iran.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 7 US/CONNALLY. Confidential; Exdis. Repeated to Treasury and White House.

214. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to Secretary of State Rogers and Secretary of Defense Laird

Kissinger advised the Secretaries of the President’s decision as to how to implement his pledges to the Shah.

Source: Library of Congress, Henry Kissinger Papers, Box CL–152, Iran Chronological File, 28 May 1971–1 December 1972. Secret.

215. Paper Prepared in the Department of State

The paper made the case for approving the sale to Iran of the Redeye missile.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, DEF 12–5 IRAN. Secret; Noforn.

216. Memorandum From Harold Saunders of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Saunders put to Kissinger the questions which arose from the President’s promise of U.S. military personnel to Iran.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 602, Country Files, Middle East, Iran, Vol. IV 9/1/71–4/73. Secret. Tab A is the White House backchannel message as sent for transmission. Tabs B and C are not published. At the top of this memorandum, Kissinger wrote, “Al—OK—but what do you think? HK.” Haig responded “I agree.” Kissinger initialed his approval. In Telegram 4467 from Tehran, July 24, the Embassy requested clarification as to the nature and extent of the U.S. military support to be provided to Iran. While recommending a forthcoming response, the Embassy also urged that Washington emphasize the non-operative role contemplated for U.S. personnel assisting the Iranian forces. (Ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, DEF 19–9 US-IRAN.) In Telegram 4639 from Tehran, August 1, Farland conveyed ALAM’s assurance that Iran did not foresee an operational role for U.S. military technicians. (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1282, Saunders Files, Middle East Negotiations, Iran Military 1/1/72–12/31/72.)