Office of the Historian

182. Intelligence Cable Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency1

Washington, February 13, 1980, 2326Z

COUNTRY

  • Iran/Iraq

SUBJECT

  • Reported plans by former Iranian Prime Minister Bakhtiar to attempt the overthrow of the Iranian Revolutionary Government [less than 1 line not declassified]

SOURCE

  • [3 lines not declassified]

1. [1½ lines not declassified] former Iranian Prime Minister Bakhtiar, the latter plans to launch an attempt, approximately in mid-March 1980, to overthrow the Iranian Revolutionary Government. Bakhtiar travelled to Baghdad from his exile residence in Paris to consult secretly with Iraqi President Saddam Husayn on Iraqi support for Bakhtiar’s planned return to power. Bakhtiar voiced his confidence in his ability to return to power in Tehran with the support of loyal elements of the armed forces. The resistance leader said that Bakhtiar expects major political and military support from the Iraqi Government for his movement.

2. The leader said that he, along with representatives of three other Kurdish organizations, will meet in Baghdad, or a location nearby, on 20 February to coordinate military operations amongst themselves and the Iraqi Government in support of the planned coup by Bakhtiar. He identified the other expected representatives as Salah Mohtadi from Komola (Zaaman-e Zahmat-e Keshan-e Kurdistan—Revolutionary Organization of the Workers of Kurdistan), an unidentified brother of Sheikh Osman Naqshahandi, and Sheikh Eziddin Hoseini. The Kurdish leader indicated that he receives approximately 100,000 Iraq pounds (USD 300,000) monthly from Bakhtiar for support of 2,500 armed men in his organization. He said that he coordinates all matters related to this support and their military movements into Kurdistan from Iraq [Page 479] with Barzani, half-brother of President Saddam and Chief of the Iraq Civilian Secret Service.

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Middle East File, Box 32, Subject File, Iran [Retained] 2/80. Secret. Sent to the National Security Agency; Departments of State, the Treasury, and Justice; Defense Intelligence Agency; Secret Service; Federal Bureau of Investigation; National Security Council Staff, and White House.↩