Iran 1969


31. Memorandum for the Record

Director of Central Intelligence Richard Helms met with the Shah for a wide-ranging discussion of Sino-Soviet relations, regional developments, and U.S. intelligence installations in Iran.

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, 80 B 01285 A, Box 11, Folder 9, DCI (Helms), Memo for the Record, 01 January 1965–31 December 1972. Secret. The meeting took place at Blair House. The briefing memorandum was not attached.


32. Memorandum of Conversation

In a meeting with Rogers, the Shah expressed his satisfaction at his previous day’s talks with the President on the oil quota scheme.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1245, Harold Saunders Files, Middle East Negotiations, Visit of Shah of Iran, October 21–23, 1969. Secret; Limdis. Drafted by Miklos. The meeting took place at Blair House. The conversation is part 1 of 8. Parts 2 to 5 are also published; parts 6 to 8 are not. According to the President’s Daily Diary, Nixon met the Shah privately for an hour and forty minutes on October 21 before they were joined briefly by Peter Flanigan, the President’s Assistant for International Economic Affairs. (Ibid., White House Central Files) Flanigan’s summary of the conversation can be found Ibid., Subject Files, Conference Files, 1969–1974, Box 63. In Telegram 4465 from Tehran, October 29, the ambassador conveyed the Shah’s satisfaction following the visit and the Iranian impression that the Shah had received the warmest reception ever in the United States. (Ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 7 IRAN)


33. Memorandum of Conversation

The Shah emphasized to Rogers his concern over the security situation in the Persian Gulf, notably Iraqi instability and Soviet efforts to gain influence in the region.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1245, Harold Saunders Files, Middle East Negotiations, Visit of Shah of Iran, October 21–23, 1969. Secret; Limdis. Drafted by Miklos. The meeting took place at Blair House.


34. Memorandum of Conversation

The Shah told Rogers that his first defense priority was his air force and underscored his need for more aircraft, technicians, and pilot training.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1245, Harold Saunders Files, Middle East Negotiations, Visit of Shah of Iran, October 21–23, 1969. Secret; Limdis. Drafted by Miklos. The meeting took place at Blair House.


35. Memorandum of Conversation

The Secretary conveyed to the Shah Washington’s hope that Iran would work to strengthen moderate governments in Saudi Arabia and Lebanon.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1245, Harold Saunders Files, Middle East Negotiations, Visit of Shah of Iran, October 21–23, 1969. Secret; Limdis. Drafted by Miklos. The meeting took place at Blair House.


36. Memorandum of Conversation

The Shah explained to Secretary Laird that Iran had to build up its military due to its unstable neighbors, while the Secretary described the constraints on U.S. military assistance.

Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files, FRC 330–75–089, Box 74, Iran 1969, 091.112. Secret. Drafted by Robert J. Pranger and approved by Nutter. The meeting took place at Blair House.


37. Memorandum From the Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon

Kissinger recommended that Nixon encourage the Shah to aid in U.S. efforts to reduce the global heroin supply.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 601, Country Files, Middle East, Iran, Vol. I, 1/20/69–5/31/70. Confidential. According to the President’s Daily Diary, he met with the Shah from 10:55 to 11:17 a.m. on October 23, along with Kissinger, and later, briefly Rogers. No other record of the farewell talk was found. (Ibid., White House Central Files) In Telegram 203729 to Tehran, December 8, the Department requested background information in order to devise a proper approach on Iranian opium production. (Ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, SOC 11–5 IRAN.) In Airgram A–5 to the Department, January 7, 1970, the Embassy reported that the Iranian Council of Ministers had allocated 6200 hectares for poppy planting. (Ibid., INCO DRUGS IRAN.) In telegram 211 from Geneva, January 20, 1970, the U.S. delegation to the UN recommended that the Department refrain from open criticism of Iran’s opium production, hoping that in return Iran might agree not to export its crops. (Ibid.)


38. Memorandum From Harold Saunders of the National Security Council Staff to the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs (Sisco)

Saunders offered Sisco his views on how to respond to Tehran’s request for an oil quota, as well as how to develop a long-term U.S. presence in the Middle East.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1236, Harold Saunders Files, Middle East Negotiations, Folder Iran 10/1/69–12/31/69. Confidential; Exdis. The memorandum is an unsigned copy. According to a handwritten note by Saunders, a copy went to Rockwell and Miklos. The attachments were White House staff comments of November 5 on an NSC paper on oil policy, which was not attached. The summary and conclusion of the paper are scheduled for publication in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, Volume XXXV: Energy Crisis, 1969–1974.


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

Prior to Kissinger’s meeting with Iranian Ambassador Afshar, Saunders provided him with an update on the status of Tehran’s oil quota plan.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 601, Country Files, Middle East, Iran, Vol. 1, 1/20/69–5/31/70. Confidential. Sent for information. The attachment is not published. No record of the meeting with Kissinger was found.


40. Telegram 197323 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Tehran

The Department advised the Embassy on the status of the Shah’s requests for pilot training, USAF technicians, aircraft and his oil import program.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 7 IRAN. Secret. Repeated to CINCSTRIKE/CINCMEAFSA. Drafted by McClelland; cleared by Miklos, by E/FSE, OASD/ISA, PM/MASP, JCS, and USAF; and approved by Rockwell.


41. Telegram 4827 From the Embassy in Iran to the Department of State

Ambassador MacArthur reported that the Shah had pressed him on Iran’s need for additional oil revenues in order to exercise a stabilizing influence in the Persian Gulf and Middle East.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, PET 17 IRAN-US. Secret. A handwritten note on the White House copy of this telegram reads: “Att:Saunders-Kissinger Memo 11/28/69, Subj: President’s Saturday Briefing.” (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1236, Harold Saunders Files, Middle East Negotiations, Folder Iran 10/1/69–12/31/69)


42. Telegram 4833 From the Embassy in Iran to the Department of State

The Ambassador informed the Department that the Shah was aggrieved at the U.S. tendency to suggest that some of his military requests were superfluous, since Iran’s security and independence were at stake.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, DEF 19–8 US-IRAN. Secret; Exdis. A handwritten note on the White House copy of this telegram reads: “Att: Saunders-Kissinger Memo, 11/28/69, Subj: President’s Saturday Briefing.” (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1236, Harold Saunders Files, Middle East Negotiations, Folder Iran, 1/20/69–12/31/69)


43. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Eliot) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

The Department was concerned about reports from Tehran that the Iranians were anticipating a favorable reply to the oil import scheme on the basis of alleged assurances from President Nixon during the Shah’s visit.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 601, Country Files, Middle East, Iran, Vol. I, 1/20/69–5/31/70. Secret; Exdis. The enclosures, Telegrams 4792 and 4834 from Tehran, November 24 and 27, are not published.