Office of the Historian

175. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Iran1

Washington, August 11, 1965, 7:15 p.m.

138. Baghdad’s 74 to Department.2

Iraqi request for support efforts halt flow of arms from Iran to dissident Iraqi Kurds cannot reasonably be refused. Our consistent policy has been Kurdish insurrection matter concerning only Iraq and flow of arms and men across border to bring pressure to bear against Iraqi government incompatible our goal area stability. Kurdish victory in Iraq in pragmatic terms could have only most ominous import for [Page 352] stability if not integrity Iran and Turkey. Indications Iraq now has fairly accurate information nature and extent Iranian assistance insurrectionists makes it probable continuance support will lead to rapid deterioration relations.

At level GOIran you deem appropriate you should note Iraqi demarche and express US concern over pressures by Iraqis arising out of Iranian assistance to Kurds. US desires maintain good relations with Iraq and Department views it also to Iran’s advantage that US limited potential for influence in Iraq not be weakened.3

For Baghdad. Embassy may inform Foreign Office Embassy Tehran instructed raise matter with GOI.

For London. You may apprise Foreign Office of foregoing.

Rusk
  1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964-66, POL 23-9 IRAQ. Confidential. Drafted by Davies and Dinsmore; cleared in draft by Bracken and by Judd; and approved by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs William J. Handley. Repeated to Ankara, Baghdad, Karachi, and London.↩
  2. In telegram 74 from Baghdad, August 11, Charge d’Affaires J. Wesley Adams reported that Iraqi Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs Kadhim Khalaf had called him to the Foreign Office to request “in the strongest terms” that the United States intervene with the Iranians to obtain cessation of the flow of arms from Iran to the Kurds. Adams noted that he made the usual disclaimer regarding the U.S. ability to influence Iran but agreed to forward the request. (Ibid.)↩
  3. In telegram 153 from Tehran, August 13, Charge d’Affaires Martin F. Herz reported that on August 12 he had conveyed the Iraqi demand to the Foreign Office with comments as instructed in telegram 138. The next day he was summoned by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aram to his residence to discuss Iran-Iraq relations. Aram had insisted that Iran was not aiding the Kurds, and complained that Iraq seemed to be following a studied policy of annoying Iran. Herz commented that Aram seemed distressed that the United States had become involved in the matter. (Ibid.)↩