Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
89BAGHDAD3048
1989-06-05 11:11:00
SECRET
Embassy Baghdad
how-toO 051111Z JUN 89 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0490 AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY GULFWAR COLLECTIVE
S E C R E T BAGHDAD 03048
E.O. 12356:DECL:OADR
TAGS: PARM PREL UR, IR IZ
SUBJ: SOVIET ARMS SALES TO IRAN
REF: STATE 176500
S E C R E T BAGHDAD 03048
E.O. 12356:DECL:OADR
TAGS: PARM PREL UR, IR IZ
SUBJ: SOVIET ARMS SALES TO IRAN
REF: STATE 176500
1. (S-ENTIRE TEXT)
2. AMBASSADOR CALLED ON MFA UNDERSECRETARY HAMDUN
ON JUNE 5 TO RESUME DIALOGUE ON THE PROBLEM OF
SOVIET ARMS SALES TO IRAN. POINTING OUT THAT
REFTEL HAD BEEN DRAFTED PRIOR TO THE NEWS OF
KHOMEINI'S DEATH, AMBASSADOR NOTED THAT WHATEVER
GOVERNMENTAL ARRANGEMENTS MAY EMERGE IN TEHRAN,
FOR THE MOMENT WE HAVE A RAFSANJANI VISIT SCHEDULED
FOR MOSCOW JUNE 21. WE ARE URGING GULF CAPITALS
TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES TO REGISTER WITH THE SOVIETS
CLEARLY THAT THERE WILL BE STRONG NEGATIVE ARAB
REACTION TO RESUMPTION OF ARMS DELIVERIES TO IRAN.
3. AMBASSADOR THEN WENT THROUGH TICKS IN PARA FOUR
REFTEL, REITERATING THAT WE WERE GRATEFUL FOR THE
IRAQIS CONTINUING TO SHARE WITH US THEIR THOUGHTS
AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON THIS ISSUE OF GRAVE MUTUAL
CONCERN TO BOTH OF OUR GOVERNMENTS.
4. HAMDUN RESPONDED THAT HE DID HAVE SOMETHING TO
REPORT. FOR THE FIRST TIME THE SOVIETS HAVE
ADMITTED TO THE GOI THAT THEY DO INTEND TO SELLARMS,
THOUGH REFUSING TO GIVE ANY SPECIFICS. THEY CLAIM
THEY WOULD NOT GIVE IRAN EVERYTHING IT ASKED FOR
AND THAT THE ARMS PACKAGE WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH TO TIP
THE REGIONAL BALANCE. THE SOVIETS' JUSTIFICATION
TO THE IRAQIS WAS SIMPLE -- IF MOSCOW DOES NOT SELL
THE ARMS THE WEST WILL.
5. FOR ITS PART, HAMDUN SAID, IRAQ CONTINUES TO
MAKE ITS POSITION CLEAR TO THE SOVIETS, AND HAS
ASKED KUWAIT, YAR, JORDAN, AND EGYPT,
TO DO SO AS WELL. WITH REGARD TO THE GULF,
HOWEVER, HAMDUN EMPHASIZED, THE SOVIETS ARE
PROBABLY PLAYING ON A SECOND TRACK. IRAQ BELIEVES
MOSCOW IS TRYING TO SET UP AN "AXIS" TO INCLUDE
THE KABUL REGIME, IRAN, AND THE IRANIAN BASED
MUJAHIDIN: I.E. THEY ARE SEEKING ANY
JUSTIFICATION FOR ARMS SALES TO TEHRAN WHICH WILL
AT THE SAME TIME HELP THEIR POSITION IN
AFGHANISTAN. EVIDENCE FOR THIS HYPOTHESIS
HAD COME FROM REPORTED REMARKS BY THE SOVIET
AMBASSADOR TO THE UAE.
6. ACTION RECOMMENDED: AMBASSADOR ASKED WHAT
HAMDUN RECOMMENDED BOTH OUR GOVERNMENTS COULD
OR SHOULD DO NEXT. HE SUGGESTED WE BOTH MAKE AN
APPROACH NOW, ALONG THE LINES OF REFTEL, TO THE
EGYPTIANS. AMBASSADOR AGREED THAT THIS WAS A
SENSIBLE COURSE OF ACTION AND SAID SHE WOULD
CONVEY THIS PROPOSAL IMMEDIATELY TO THE DEPARTMENT.
GLASPIE
E.O. 12356:DECL:OADR
TAGS: PARM PREL UR, IR IZ
SUBJ: SOVIET ARMS SALES TO IRAN
REF: STATE 176500
1. (S-ENTIRE TEXT)
2. AMBASSADOR CALLED ON MFA UNDERSECRETARY HAMDUN
ON JUNE 5 TO RESUME DIALOGUE ON THE PROBLEM OF
SOVIET ARMS SALES TO IRAN. POINTING OUT THAT
REFTEL HAD BEEN DRAFTED PRIOR TO THE NEWS OF
KHOMEINI'S DEATH, AMBASSADOR NOTED THAT WHATEVER
GOVERNMENTAL ARRANGEMENTS MAY EMERGE IN TEHRAN,
FOR THE MOMENT WE HAVE A RAFSANJANI VISIT SCHEDULED
FOR MOSCOW JUNE 21. WE ARE URGING GULF CAPITALS
TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES TO REGISTER WITH THE SOVIETS
CLEARLY THAT THERE WILL BE STRONG NEGATIVE ARAB
REACTION TO RESUMPTION OF ARMS DELIVERIES TO IRAN.
3. AMBASSADOR THEN WENT THROUGH TICKS IN PARA FOUR
REFTEL, REITERATING THAT WE WERE GRATEFUL FOR THE
IRAQIS CONTINUING TO SHARE WITH US THEIR THOUGHTS
AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON THIS ISSUE OF GRAVE MUTUAL
CONCERN TO BOTH OF OUR GOVERNMENTS.
4. HAMDUN RESPONDED THAT HE DID HAVE SOMETHING TO
REPORT. FOR THE FIRST TIME THE SOVIETS HAVE
ADMITTED TO THE GOI THAT THEY DO INTEND TO SELLARMS,
THOUGH REFUSING TO GIVE ANY SPECIFICS. THEY CLAIM
THEY WOULD NOT GIVE IRAN EVERYTHING IT ASKED FOR
AND THAT THE ARMS PACKAGE WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH TO TIP
THE REGIONAL BALANCE. THE SOVIETS' JUSTIFICATION
TO THE IRAQIS WAS SIMPLE -- IF MOSCOW DOES NOT SELL
THE ARMS THE WEST WILL.
5. FOR ITS PART, HAMDUN SAID, IRAQ CONTINUES TO
MAKE ITS POSITION CLEAR TO THE SOVIETS, AND HAS
ASKED KUWAIT, YAR, JORDAN, AND EGYPT,
TO DO SO AS WELL. WITH REGARD TO THE GULF,
HOWEVER, HAMDUN EMPHASIZED, THE SOVIETS ARE
PROBABLY PLAYING ON A SECOND TRACK. IRAQ BELIEVES
MOSCOW IS TRYING TO SET UP AN "AXIS" TO INCLUDE
THE KABUL REGIME, IRAN, AND THE IRANIAN BASED
MUJAHIDIN: I.E. THEY ARE SEEKING ANY
JUSTIFICATION FOR ARMS SALES TO TEHRAN WHICH WILL
AT THE SAME TIME HELP THEIR POSITION IN
AFGHANISTAN. EVIDENCE FOR THIS HYPOTHESIS
HAD COME FROM REPORTED REMARKS BY THE SOVIET
AMBASSADOR TO THE UAE.
6. ACTION RECOMMENDED: AMBASSADOR ASKED WHAT
HAMDUN RECOMMENDED BOTH OUR GOVERNMENTS COULD
OR SHOULD DO NEXT. HE SUGGESTED WE BOTH MAKE AN
APPROACH NOW, ALONG THE LINES OF REFTEL, TO THE
EGYPTIANS. AMBASSADOR AGREED THAT THIS WAS A
SENSIBLE COURSE OF ACTION AND SAID SHE WOULD
CONVEY THIS PROPOSAL IMMEDIATELY TO THE DEPARTMENT.
GLASPIE