DCI TALKING POINTS 15 MAY 1984 SITUATION IN THE PERSIAN GULF

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86B00420R000200440003-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 13, 2009
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: May 15, 1984
• Content Type: MISC

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/29: CIA-RDP86B0042OR000200440003-9
DCI Talking Points
15 May 1984
Situation in the Persian Gulf
During recent weeks the war in the Gulf has passed two
important milestones.
--Iraq has begun attacking tankers on a regular, about
once a week, basis.
--Iran has begun to retaliate against Gulf shipping.
The Iraqi raid on two tankers near Kharg Island late
Sunday probably foreshadows a sharp increase in military
activity in the Gulf as Baghdad and Tehran escalate the
cycle of retaliation for each other's attacks. The Iranians
are likely to respond to the latest Iraqi raids in the next
few days with additional attacks in the Gulf.
--Iranian aircraft attacked a Kuwaiti tanker early last
Sunday. Iraq responded later that day by attacking
an Iranian and Greek tanker south of Kharg Island.
The Kuwaiti and Iranian ships were only slightly damaged
but the Greek tanker reportedly was seriously damaged.
--Press reports indicate that the Iranians attacked a
second Kuwaiti tanker yesterday in the same area as
the attack on Sunday.
-- We estimate that Iran has between 10 and 20 F-4
aircraft at airbases on the Gulf that are immediately
available for attacks against shipping. Some of these
aircraft carry Maverick air-to-surface missiles
which Iran has used in the past to sink Iraqi missile
boats.
--The Iraqis probably believe they can use the spiraling
hostilities to increase Arab support for their cause and
to put world pressure on Tehran to negotiate an end
to the war.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/29: CIA-RDP86B0042OR000200440003-9
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/29: CIA-RDP86B0042OR000200440003-9
US ships and aircraft in the region will be in more
danger from Iranian attack as the fighting escalates.
--Iraqi President Saddam Hussayn in a press interview on
Saturday stated that AWACs aircraft are providing Iraq
with information on Iranian activities.
--The Iranians have long claimed that the US has
provided Baghdad with aid and could use Saddam's
statement and the increase in hostilities in the Gulf
as an excuse to attack US forces. They also may respond
with terror attacks against US military personnel and
civilians in the region.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/29: CIA-RDP86B0042OR000200440003-9