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

58. Memorandum from the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Tarnoff) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)¹

Washington, November 24, 1979

SUBJECT

• Seizure of Documents in Tehran

This responds to your November 22 memorandum to the Secretary.²

The attached paper³ summarizes the information available November 23 about the Tehran Embassy documents under Iranian control.

None of the working files of the Chargé, the Political Section, the Economic Section, the Defense Attaché Office (DAO), and Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) were destroyed.

NODIS and EXDIS messages concerning the Shah, a telegram reporting a meeting with Yazdi and Bazargan, [1½ lines not declassified] and a State telegram and a State letter and memorandum concerning the Shah’s possible admission into the United States were among the documents seized (the last three documents are mentioned in a November 21 article in the London Times).

Political and Economic Section files contain information concerning local sources, interviews with members of minority groups, and biographic data that could be used to damage innocent persons.

DAO files include material about U.S.-Iranian cooperation in making technical assessments of Soviet-origin military equipment. MAAG files record cooperation on military procurement matters that was continuing up to the time the Embassy was seized.

In brief, though some of the safes had not yet been opened when the last group of hostages was released, Embassy files now in Iranian hands can compromise many of those with whom we have dealt, and if disclosed or used as the basis for distorted stories can do incalculable damage.

Although virtually all CIA documents in the Embassy were destroyed, a safe containing Iranian, U.S. [less than 1 line not declassified] currency notes was seized by the Iranians.⁴ These will confirm Iranian suspicions about espionage activities conducted from the Embassy.

We do know that records relating to the recent [less than 1 line not declassified] survey were destroyed with the material in the Embassy’s central files. We also believe that the material on the recent intelligence briefing of Entezam and Yazdi was destroyed.

As soon as officers recently returned from Tehran who are familiar with the DAO and MAAG files can be reached, we will provide a further assessment of the material in those offices that was compromised.

Peter Tarnoff
Executive Secretary

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Middle East File, Box 35, Subject File, Iran Cables & Memos 11–12/79. Secret; Sensitive. A handwritten note by Carter reads: “Zbig, Prepare to explain as best we can. C.”
2. Not found, but apparently the memorandum formalized Carter’s request for information on the seizure of documents in a handwritten note on the Summary of Conclusions of the November 20 SCC meeting. His note reads: “Cy—summarize for me possible damaging documents seized in Tehran which may be revealed to world. Prepare explanation to be released when necessary.” (Carter Library, National Security Council, NSC Institutional Files (H–Files), Box 106) In a November 26 memorandum, Brzezinski asked Sick to “impress upon Hal [Saunders] the urgency of this matter.” (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Middle East File, Box 35, Subject File, Iran Cables & Memos 11–12/79).
3. Attached but not printed. In a note attached to another copy of this memorandum and report, Suddarth wrote: “Based on this memo, virtually all our business seems to have been compromised in the Tehran takeover. RS.” (Department of State, Records of David D. Newsom, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Subject Files, 1978–1981, Lot 81D154, Iran; Captured Documents)
4. The CIA also assessed the possible damage of the Embassy takeover. Turner wrote Carter that he would “weigh additional evidence that we receive in an effort at least to know whether accusations that may be made in public trials are accurate.” [text not declassified] (Memorandum from Turner to Carter, November 27; Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 30, Iran 11/21/79–11/27/79) Bowdler and Precht also reviewed the damage and how to respond. (Memorandum from Bowdler to Newsom, November 28; Department of State, Records of David D. Newsom, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Subject Files, 1978–1981, Lot 81D154, Intelligence Iran)