Office of the Historian

306. Memorandum From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Secretary of Defense (Wilson)1

Washington, April 12, 1955.

SUBJECT

  • MDA Program for Iran
1.
In response to memoranda by the Assistant Secretary of Defense (International Security Affairs), dated 29 November and 28 December 1954,2 concerning the Mutual Defense Assistance Program for [Page 732] Iran, the Joint Chiefs of Staff have reviewed the letters from the Director, Foreign Operations Administration3 and the Secretary of State4 containing their views with regard to supporting an expanded military assistance program for Iran.
2.
Pending an evaluation of Iran’s role in the defense of the Middle East and its capability to utilize effectively the matériel being provided, the Joint Chiefs of Staff favor no increase at this time in the present level of military assistance programmed for Iran. However, they consider that some increase in defense support and direct forces support may be required to achieve the optimum balance of United States efforts in Iran. The Joint Chiefs of Staff therefore recommend that you request the Foreign Operations Administration to reconsider the magnitude of its FY 1956 allocation for Iran in light of the recommendations on defense support and direct forces support recently submitted by the Country Team in Iran.
3.
The friendly and cooperative attitude of the present Iranian Government should be encouraged. Some recognition should be given to the receptiveness of the Iranian armed forces to guidance from U.S. Mission and MAAG personnel and to the marked improvement over the past year in Iran’s ability to receive and utilize MDAP equipment. Accordingly, the Joint Chiefs of Staff approve a change in the Army portion of the force objectives for calendar years 1956–58 for Iran from 12 Infantry Brigades and 3 Armored Brigades to 8 Light Infantry Divisions, 4 Light Armored Divisions, and 5 Independent Infantry Brigades. These force objectives coincide closely with the present organization of the Iranian Army and will facilitate the administration of the MDA Program for Iran.
For the Joint Chiefs of Staff:
Arthur Radford5
Chairman
Joint Chiefs of Staff
  1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, JCS Records, CCS.092 Iran (4–23–48). Top Secret.↩
  2. Neither printed.↩
  3. This letter from Stassen to Wilson, December 13, 1954, is not printed.↩
  4. This letter from Dulles to Wilson, November 8, 1954, is printed in Foreign Relations, 1952–1954, vol. X, p. 1063.↩
  5. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩