312. Message From the Department of State to the Swiss Ambassador to Iran (Lang)1
Please convey the following information to Foreign Minister Ghotbzadeh in response to his request for information about the health of the former Shah.2
[Page 847]Information reaching us indicates that the condition of the former Shah is serious. We have not received any information forecasting the progress of his illness and we are not in a position to make any judgment ourselves in this regard.
Our ability to provide information on the state of the health of the former Shah is limited by the absence of any direct contact with him. Although we are in touch with Egyptians who are informed on the state of the Shah’s health, there is necessarily a delay in receiving this information and we are not in a position to evaluate it accurately.
Because of these limitations, we do not believe that private information on changes in the state of his health will reach us necessarily sooner than press reports. We will attempt, however, to keep the Swiss Embassy informed of any significant changes.
(FOR AMBASSADOR LANG: If Ghotbzadeh asks you about attendance at the funeral, you may say that you understand that Ambassador Atherton would attend if President Sadat decides on an official funeral and the Diplomatic Corps are to attend.)3
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Middle East File, Box 42, Subject File, Iran Papers 5/80–7/80. Secret.↩
- See Document 306.↩
- See Document 308.↩