Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XVII, Near East, 1961–1962

248. Aide-Mémoire Presented by Secretary of State Rusk to the Shah of Iran⁰

Washington, April 13, 1962.

His Imperial Majesty the Shahanshah of Iran and Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara held a discussion on April 12, 1962, concerning the defense problems of Iran. Secretary McNamara, on behalf of the United States Government, expressed the following views:

The United States Government believes that the basic force level of the Imperial Iranian Armed Forces should be 150,000 men. The United States Government recognizes that a static force above this level may be required in minimum strength to preserve a visible defensive posture in the northern border areas of Iran and is prepared to undertake a joint study to determine the size and equipment of such a force.

The United States Government is prepared to send a military planning team from the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff to Iran, to consider these questions and to consult generally with Iranian Armed Forces concerning their plans and military deployments.

In conjunction with the proposed force level stated above, the United States Government is prepared to make a firm undertaking to deliver military equipment to Iran over the period July 1, 1962 through June 30, 1967, in accordance with the attached Annex A to this aide-mémoire. This firm undertaking would, of course, be subject to the approval of the United States Congress for annual appropriation requests of the necessary funds. The United States Government believes that, in the light of the present and future strength of its own strategic retaliatory and non-nuclear forces, together with the measures being taken to improve their mobility, the above force level and proposed equipment supplies for the Imperial Iranian Armed Forces would make these forces substantially more effective than at present for the purpose of carrying out their missions. The United States Government notes that the proposed equipment deliveries would constitute a major increase in the delivery levels of the past two years, and would provide for the first time a clear understanding of military assistance plans over a five-year period.

Annex A¹

SUMMARY OF PLANNED DELIVERIES OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT TO IRAN²

July 1, 1962, through June 30, 1967

1. Additional Firepower:

a. Stocks of M–1 rifles; BAR automatic rifles; 3.5" rocket launchers; and 57 mm and 106 mm recoilless rifles will be brought to authorized levels for the suggested force levels.

b. Ammunition will be supplied for light and heavy weapons in quantities sufficient for reasonable training requirements and to bring stocks to the planned 30-day level.

c. Approximately 200 60 mm mortars.

2. Additional Communications Equipment

3. Approximately 100 M–113 Armored Personnel Carriers

4. Additional Vehicles:

a.	5,000	Jeeps
b.	1,500	3/4 to 1-ton trucks
c.	3,500	2–1/2–ton trucks
d.	250	5-ton trucks
	10,250

5. Combat Support Equipment: Cranes, water trucks, graders, tractors, Bailey bridges, etc.

6. 2 Minesweepers (inshore)

7. 20 Helicopters (H–43B)

8. Civic Action Program Support

9. Ground Force Construction Project: Guchon Barracks and Facilities

10. Liaison Aircraft:

a. 30 L–19’s

b. 15 Cessna 180’s

11. Transport Aircraft:

a. 1 Squadron C–130’s (4 aircraft)

b. 12 additional C–47 aircraft

12. Additional Combat Air Capability:

a. 2 Squadrons Jet Fighter-Bombers (13 aircraft per squadron)

b. 2 Additional Squadrons (13 aircraft per squadron)³

c. Complete the operational airfield and facilities at Hamadan

d. Provide a dispersed staging base in Northeast Iran

e. Consult with the British as to steps which can be taken to assist in providing the required early warning radar system.

0. Source: Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 65 D 533, CF 2082. Secret. Secretary Rusk handed the aide-mémoire to the Shah during a conversation that began at 2:30 p.m. on April 13; see Document 247. The aide-mémoire and its annex are also attached to a memorandum from Battle to Bundy, April 20, that transmitted to the White House the summary record of the Shah’s conversations that the Iranian Government had requested. (Ibid., Central Files, 611.88/4–2062) The White House copy is in the Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Country Series, Iran, 3/27/62–5/21/62.
1. Secret.
2. Subject to approval by U.S. Congress of annual appropriation requests. [Footnote in the source text.]
3. Subject to improvement of the operational and maintenance efficiency of the Iranian Air Force. [Footnote in the source text.]