SITUATION REPORT
IRAN
The aborted reeaue mieaion apparently hoe etrengthened the poeition of Iranian hardliners who are oppoaed to any oompromiee vith the US.
Behoehti'a statement yesterday that Bani-Sadr should not have agreed to the unconditional return of the commandos bodies indicates that Boheshtl believea Bani-Sadr is vulnerable. Beheshti's ielamlc Republic Party newapapor
assets blocked by the US. |
Tehran radio has broadcaat the purported full tuxthomeini message to President Bani-Sadr last night. Tha Ayatollah blasts Western and UN support for "world-devouring America" and auggeata Bani-Sadr invito various foreign groupa to obaervo tho raaulta of the aborted US mission. He flatly referapiea" beingusing "we" to describe those holding thecontends they are being treated with "the utmoethe final paragraph admonishes Bani-Sadr to caution aub-veralve elements againat dissident activity "at tha crucial momontf" citing Iranian Kurda and US supporters "quite numerous among our own ao-oalled lntalligontaia and tho youngsters who have been deceived by these groups." (u)
tho hoatagos have boen taken
Wo have no information to confirm or deny thoclaim thac they have transferred hostages to Qom and Tabriz, but it appears likely that at least somo of
EC Summit Communique
Iran appears certain toey topic in the EC Buramit communique to be issued later today. Presson the initial discussions, which wound up early today in Luxembourg, indicate it is likely to stress solidarity with the US on the hostage issue and reiterate the decisions_announced by the EC Foreign Ministers last luesdav. J
Asian Reactions
In its first official reaction to the rescue mission, China expressed "regret" over the US move and strongly implied that such on action played into tho hands oi the USSR. hinese Foreign Ministry statement iaauedcharacterized US sanctions as well as the rescue operationiolation of Iran'a aoveroignty and called on "both sides" to exercise "prudence and restraint" in workingolution. According to press reports. Vice Premier Li Xiannian made similar points todayeetingelegation of visiting US newspaper executives. (U>
Since tho beginning of the hostage situation tho Chinese have counseled restraint because they are fearful of moves that might work to Moscow's benefit. In an effort to add balance, the Foreign Ministry statement also expressed the "hope" that Iran will release the hostages as soon as possible. (u)
Japanese Prime Minister Ohira told reportersthat he will urge President Carter in their meeting Thursday to use "only peaceful means"o the hostage problem and will commit Japan to act in coordination with Western Europe to press Iran for an early release of the
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hostages
ast European Reactions
Soviet commentary continues to be sharply critical, describing the rescue attempt as "new adventurism"hreat to peace in the Persian Gulf. To date, however, no ranking Soviet leader has reacted publicly, with the exception of Foreign Minister Gromyko's negative commentsews conference on Friday in Paris.
Reaction in Eastern Europe consists mostly of factual reporting and sparse, but highly critical, editorial comments, with most countries apparently following Moscow's lead. Romania, however, has departed from its past restraint on controversial international issues and is giving the story extensive covorage, including ain the party dally expressing the Romaniandisapproval. The unusually sharp tone of the Romanian response undoubtedly reelects Bucharest's desire tc safeguard its newly signed oil import agreement with Iran.
Saudi Reaction
The Saudi Government in an official statement last night expressed "great concern and much regret" about the US rescue mission, which it characterized as "going beyond" the "acceptable limits of Internationaliyadh urged both the US and Iran to exercise "self-restraint" and work for the release of the hostages. (U)
Tho little modia coverage of the incident in Saudi Arabia hne been largely negative, in keeping with the Saudi positionrimary proponent of Islamic Editorial comment has ranged from calls for restraint to condemnation of tho US action. Reactions from other Persian Gulf states have centered on theeffects tho operation might have on the stability of tho area. I I
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Iran-Iraq
Iraq appeara to be planning aabotage operationa in Iran and against Iranian facilities in Kuwait, (s)
The Iranian Government announced yesterday that it shot down an Iraqi helicoptor and chased off three othora trying to^oscuo tha aurvlvors.
Original document.
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