Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume XI, Part 1, Iran: Hostage Crisis, November 1979–September 1980

187. Memorandum of Conversation¹

Paris, February 21, 1980, 9:20 a.m.

MEMORANDUM OF MEETING BETWEEN MINISTER FRANCOIS-PONCET AND SECRETARY VANCE

• France

  • Jean Francois-Poncet
  • Foreign Minister
  • Gabriel Robin
  • Political Director

• United States

  • Cyrus R. Vance
  • Secretary of State
  • Arthur A. Hartman
  • US Ambassador to France

[Omitted here is material unrelated to the hostage crisis.]

Vance said that he would like to discuss Iran for a moment. He said we had thought until the last couple of days that the hostages might be out in a couple of weeks, but some slippages are beginning to develop and it might stretch out. For the moment, he is assuming we will get the hostages out. If we do, what should our relationship with Iran be? He said in his own view he thought several things ought to happen. First, we ought to begin with a lifting of the freeze on assets and even that should begin in the overseas branches of American banks. We would allow that to proceed and then perhaps have a joint US-Iran commission unwind the remaining economic and assets problems. Second, we might then think of sending some military spare parts to them. Third, we would have to look at the whole economic relationship beyond that. It is in our interest to see that their oil operations continue. And, therefore, in a post-hostage situation, we probably ought to do something to help them with the resumption of drilling. And we might also wish to do something in technical assistance in agriculture. But, he said, as far as he is concerned, he would recommend that we take all our people out because he did not think that unless things changed seriously in the country, it would be safe to keep them there.

Francois-Poncet said that he would like to mention to the Secretary some aspects of his conversation with Ghotbzadeh.² He said he had given me the rundown on the conversation for use by my guest,³ but that there were several other things which occurred which might be of interest to the Secretary. Francois-Poncet said that he had begun with Ghotbzadeh by making a very strong pitch on getting rid of the hostages as a problem and freeing them in order that a more balanced relationship could be built with all the countries of the West. He assured Ghotbzadeh that until that happened, there would not be any relationship. They then went on to discuss the situation in the surrounding area and Ghotbzadeh said that he was very worried about what the Soviets were up to. He said his two greatest fears were that with Soviet help, the Tudeh Party was making headway and that the Soviets intended to make Baluchistan into a separate state. He then went on to say that Iran was determined to help get the Soviets out of Afghanistan and is already funding an effort to make Afghanistan a real hell for the Soviets. He said that there could be no reprisal that will stop Iran from doing this. On the other hand, they don’t exclude some moves into the north by the Soviets. He apparently talked about pulling back, fighting separately in the villages and in the end saying Iran will be the same kind of hell for them that Afghanistan is.

1. Source: Department of State, Records of the Secretary of State, 1977–1980, Lot 84D241, Jan/Feb/Mar 1980 Memcons. Secret; Nodis; Super Sensitive. The meeting took place at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Drafted on February 26, presumably by Hartman.
2. Ghotbzadeh was in Paris February 15–19.
3. Presumably the “guest” is a reference to Vance.