Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–4, Documents on Iran and Iraq, 1969–1972

125. Telegram 1935 From the Embassy in Iran to the Department of State¹ ²

Tehran, April 15, 1971, 0817Z

Subject:

• Shah’s Concern Over Libyan Oil Settlement

1. When I saw Shah April 14 he spoke critically of Libyan oil settlement, saying oil companies always made greater concessions to radical producing states than to their moderate producing state friends. He said he was sending FonMin Amouzegar to London to discuss with oil companies Libyan settlement with view to finding some way to partially bridge gap between Gulf settlement and excessive terms given Libya.

2. I reminded Shah of assurances he had given us and oil companies that terms of Gulf settlement would not be changed for five years even if Libya received more than Gulf producers. I also observed that large part of disparity between Gulf and Libyan settlement was result of Libya’s favored geographic position and low sulphur content of its oil. I concluded by saying that Iranian production and offtake so far this year was running substantially ahead of last year and that therefore I thought Iran was doing extremely well.

3. Shah replied that he would honor his word re five year assurances but would seek some way outside terms of Tehran settlement to help bridge disparity between Gulf and Libyan prices. For example, oil exported from Basra was obliged to pay a “port tax” and he had in mind possibility of port tax on oil lifted from Kharg Island. I said such a step would be serious disappointment to oil companies and Iran’s friends.

MacArthur

1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, PET 3 OPEC. Confidential. Repeated to Dhahran, Jidda, Kuwait, London, and Tripoli.
2. Ambassador MacArthur alerted the Department that the Shah hoped to bridge the gap between the recent Persian Gulf oil settlement and the more favorable terms that Libya had just secured.