ISRAELI AND US INTERESTS LED TO ARMS SALES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000605480005-7
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 8, 2012
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: December 11, 1986
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

r1_ Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/05/08: CIA-RDP90-00965R000605480005-7
+!/ CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR
11 December 1986
NATIONAL
Israeli and US interests led to arms sales
Br=YVarron_ Rich and George D. Molett III
Sta wn ers o e nstisn Science Monitor
Washlrptm
The plan to swap arms for Iran's help in gaining the
release of American hostages in Lebanon was born of a
convergence of interests between Israel and the United
States.
Israel has secretly supplied US arms to Iran since
before the outbreak of the Iran-Iraq war. Israel's goals
were to keep archenemy Iraq tied up militarily and to
cultivate intelligence ties with Iranian officials. The
sales also provided Israel with much-needed foreign
exchange.
Despite the US embargo on arms sales to Iran, Israeli
officials repeatedly sought Reagan administration ap-
proval to continue shipping Tehran surplus US arms
stockpiled in Israel. Some administration officials
balked. But an equivocal response from other senior
officials was taken as a green light by Israel.
The US view of the issue began to change in mid-1985,
&=rately seeking a way to free the CIA's Beirut
station chief William Buckle who was being held
hostage by the pro-rrorist group Islamic Jihad.
In May 1986, a CIA draft paper 'for an easu_of
ttw US arms embargo as a means o gaining ties with
"moderate" Iranian factions was c' an later
revised into a National Securi Council roposal.
In the meantime, an NSC consultant made contact with
David Kimche, then director general of Israel's Foreign
Ministry.
Finally, in the summer of 1985, Mr. Kimche met in
Washington with then-US national-security adviser Rob-
ert McFarlane and the secret Iran arms operation was
planned. An Iranian businessman and a Saudi billionaire
were asked to serve as middlemen to arrange the arms
sales and shipments.
Under the initial arrangements, US arms from Israeli
stockpiles in Israel were to be sold to the Iranians. The
US government would replace the sold items.
According to Mr. McFhrlane, President Reagan gave
verbal approval for the covert efforts as early as mid-
1985. President Reagan and Attorney General Edwin
Meese have said the President was unaware of secret
arms shipments before a formal written presidential
"finding," dated Jan. 17, 1986, authorizing the circum-
vention of the US arms embargo and other US laws.
The covert arms effort was justified within the ad-
ministration in part as a means to gain the release of
American hostages in Lebanon. But it also was seen as a
means to cultivate ties among "moderates" in Iran and to
prevent possible future Soviet domination in a post-
Khomeini Islamic republic. Despite objections by promi-
nent members of the NSC, including Secretary of State
George Shultz and Defense Secretary Caspar Wein-
berger, the covert arms shipments were begun.
.In August or September 1986, the first two planeloads
of US arms were delivered to Iran. On Sept. 14, the Rev.
Benjamin Weir was released by Islamic Jihad. White
House officials were disappointed that other hostages
were not released with Mr. Weir.
Another weapons shipment was made in November
1985 but was returned by Iran when it was discovered
that the Israelis had substituted obsolete US arms. Offi-
cials in Washington were incensed. The episode led US
officials eventually to take over the secret operation.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/05/08: CIA-RDP90-00965R000605480005-7