12. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Saunders) to Secretary of State Vance1
Peter Constable spoke to Kharazi and Beheshti at 1:45 a.m. and 2:45 a.m. Speaking in your name he asked for clarification of the position of the Clark/Miller visit. Both said it would not be possible until the USG made a statement of its intentions on the Shah. Beheshti said a new Foreign Minister would be named today from the Revolutionary Council2 and would discuss these matters with us in the future. In addition to a request for reconsideration, Constable urged that (1) an independent observer be given access to the American hostages and (2) Bruce Laingen be given telephone access to Washington and to his diplomatic colleagues. Kharazi and Beheshti said a new effort would be made today to get the Turkish Ambassador into the Compound (if the student conditions can be met, according to Kharazi). While defending the necessity for Bruce’s isolation, Kharazi said he would look into possibility of improving his communications.
A full account of the conversations is attached.3