1. Airgram From the Embassy in Iran to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 1 IRAN. Secret. Drafted by Killgore, Henry L. Taylor and Henry Precht of the Political Section of the Embassy, and Escudero; cleared by Killgore; and approved by Heck. Repeated to Amman, Ankara, Athens, Beirut, Bonn, Cairo, Colombo, Dacca, Hong Kong, Islamabad, Jerusalem, Jidda, Kabul, Kuwait, London, Manama, Moscow, New Delhi, Nicosia, Paris, Sanaa, Taipei, Tel Aviv, and Tripoli.

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

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 49, President’s Daily Briefings, January 18–31, 1973. Top Secret; Sensitive. A stamped notation on the memorandum indicates the President saw it. The extract is based on USCINCEUR telegram 181330Z to the JCS, January 17. (Ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, DEF 12–5 IRAN)

3. Letter From the Shah of Iran to President Nixon

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 755, Presidential Correspondence, Iran—M.R. Pahlavi, 1969–1974. No classification marking.

4. Telephone Conversation Between President Nixon and Director of Central Intelligence Helms

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Tapes, Oval Office, Conversation 36–113. No classification marking. The editor transcribed the portion of the tape recording published here specifically for this volume. Helms was appointed Ambassador to Iran on February 8.

5. Memorandum From Acting Secretary of State Irwin to President Nixon

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, PET 6 IRAN. Secret. Drafted by Rouse and cleared by Miklos, Sisco, and Armstrong and in L/NEA and EB/ORF/FSE.

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

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 602, Country Files—Middle East, Iran, Vol. IV, September 1971–April 1973. Secret. Sent for action. Concurred in by Richard Kennedy.

7. Memorandum From Samuel M. Hoskinson of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft)

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 137, Country Files—Middle East, Iran Oil. Secret. Sent for information.

8. Editorial Note

9. Editorial Note

10. Memorandum From Acting Secretary of State Rush to President Nixon

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 602, Country Files—Middle East, Iran, Vol. IV, September 1971–April 1973. Confidential.

11. Telegram From the Embassy in Iran to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, [no film number]. Confidential.

12. Telegram From the Embassy in Iran to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1294, Harold H. Saunders Files, Iran, 1/1/73–5/15/73. Secret; Exdis. Repeated to Moscow and Jidda.

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

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 602, Country Files—Middle East, Iran, Vol. IV, September 1971–April 1973. Secret. Sent for information. A stamped notation on the memorandum indicates the President saw it. All brackets are in the original.

14. Telegram From the Deputy Secretary of State (Rush) to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, ORG 7 D. Secret; Priority; Exdis.

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

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 603, Country Files—Middle East, Iran, Vol. V, May 1973–December 1973. Top Secret; Outside System. Sent for action. All brackets are in the original.

16. Telegram From the Embassy in Iran to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, [no film number]. Confidential.

17. Memorandum From the Directors of the Office of Iranian Affairs (Miklos), the Office of Regional Affairs (Schiff), and the Office of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Yemen, and Aden Affairs (Dickman) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Sisco)

Source: National Archives, RG 59, NEA/IRN Files: Lot 76D169, Box 8, DEF 12. Secret. Drafted by Rouse and approved by Schiff and Padelford. Sent through Davies.

18. Telegram From the Embassy in Iran to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, DEF 9 US. Confidential; Priority. Repeated Priority to the Secretary of Defense and USCINCEUR.

19. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Iran

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 603, Country Files—Middle East, Iran, Vol. V, May–December 1973. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Helms on June 13 and approved by Sisco and in S. Repeated to Belgrade, Islamabad, New Delhi, Jidda, Kuwait, Ankara, London, Moscow, Tel Aviv, and Cairo.

20. Telegram From the Embassy in Iran to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 603, Country Files—Middle East, Iran, Vol. V, May–December 1973. Confidential; Exdis.

21. Telegram From the Embassy in Iran to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 603, Country Files—Middle East, Iran, Vol. V, May–December 1973. Confidential; Priority; Exdis.

22. Editorial Note

23. Minutes of Senior Review Group Meeting

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, TS SCI, Box SCI 18, SRG, February 1971–July 1973. Top Secret; Sensitive; Codeword. The meeting was held in the White House Situation Room.

24. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS–28, Geopolitical File, Iran Chronological File, Memcons, Notebook, 23 July–15 September 1973. Top Secret; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting was held in Kissinger’s office. All brackets are in the original.

25. Memorandum for the President’s File by the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS–28, Geopolitical File, Iran Chronological File, Memcons, Notebook, 30 May ’72–15 Sept. ’73. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The Shah and Empress of Iran were in Washington for a State visit July 24–27. According to a July 23 briefing memorandum from Kissinger to Nixon: “We are generally satisfied with the way our relations with Iran, and Iran’s perception of its role in the Persian Gulf area, have been evolving. A strong Iran can be a useful counter to the spread of radical and Soviet influence, especially if the Shah can help strengthen Jordan and Saudi Arabia. We want the Shah to be convinced that we have a coherent strategy in his area and regard Iran as playing a pivotal role.” (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 920, VIP Visits, Visit of the Shah of Iran, July 17, 1973)

26. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 7 IRAN. Secret; Sensitive; Exdis. Prepared by Brett and approved by Hill. The meeting was held at Blair House. In his briefing memorandum to Schlesinger, July 24, Hill reminded the Secretary: “Following President Nixon’s visit in Tehran in May 1972, the Shah told our MAAG chief that he had received a major understanding from the President to the effect that Iran could get all available sophisticated weapons short of atomic bombs.” (Washington National Records Center, OASD Files: FRC 330–78–001, Box 69, Iran 091.112, 1973)

27. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS–28, Geopolitical File, Iran Chronological File, Memcons, Notebook, 30 May ’72–15 September ’73. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting was held in the Shah’s Reception Room at Blair House. All brackets are in the original.

28. Memorandum for the President’s Files by the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS–28, Geopolitical File, Iran Chronological File, Memcons, Notebook, 30 May ’72–15 September ’73. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. All brackets are in the original.

29. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–1973, POL 7 IRAN. Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Brett and approved by Hill. The meeting was held in Secretary Schlesinger’s office in the Pentagon. Hill provided the Secretary with a briefing memorandum prior to the meeting on July 26. (Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330–78–0002, Box 6, Iran 091.112, 1973) The memorandum of conversation was sent to the Department of State on August 8 by Major General John A. Wickham, Jr. of the Office of the Secretary of Defense under a covering memorandum.

30. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS–28, Geopolitical File, Iran Chronological File, Memcons, Notebook, 30 May ’72–15 September ’73. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting was held in the Shah’s Reception Room at Blair House. All brackets are in the original.