258. Telegram From the Embassy in Iran to the Department of State1
Tehran, January 16, 1968,
0900Z.
2897. Subject: Iranian Arms Procurement.
- 1.
- Arms procurement was only cursorily discussed during my audience with Shah 15th.
- 2.
- In discussing future Persian Gulf security (Tehran 2886),2 Shah categorically asserted that despite implications of British withdrawal he is determined not to augment five-year military program beyond scope already planned, except for few minor revisions. This conclusion is explicable by virtue of fact that in formulation five-year program Shah undoubtedly assumed British would be withdrawing by end of that period.
- 3.
- General Jablonsky had seen Shah previous day and had some luck in further reducing Shah’s shopping list, e.g., re artillery. Meanwhile Shah been consulting with Samii in anticipation latter’s discussion re possible credit arrangements with Kuss in Rome.
- 4.
- While we gratified by interest being shown in Washington in direction responsiveness to Shah’s requirements, we trying be careful here and we trust Kuss will do same in talking with Samii to remind Iranians current discussions re military credit sales dependent on Congressional concurrence.
Meyer