Iran Update: December 15, 1980

2c DEPARTMENT OF STATE BRIEFING MEMORANDUM S/S December 14, 1980 SEÇRÉT/SENSITIVE TO: The Secretary C The Deputy Secretary P - Under Secretary Newsom From: NEA - Harold H. Saunders HHS perRet Iran Update - December 15, 1980 Today's Objectives -- To evaluate reports of Iranian reactions to our position on the hostage issue. -- TO facilitate observance of Christmas by the hostages in the event that they have not been released. Status of Initiatives -- After consulting with hostage family members, we have sent a telegram to Swiss Ambassador Lang asking him to, try to arrange for hostage meetings during the Christmas holidays with locally based English speaking clergymen. (Ambassador Lang had recommended against attempting to arrange a visit with American clergymen because of the "Tabass syndrome.") We have also asked Ambassador Lang to facilitate special mail exchanges and to explore the possibility of obtaining taped messages or telephone calls from the hostages. -- The meeting with hostage family members on Saturday was useful and constructive. They welcomed the update given them by Chris and others on what has been done since August to attempt to secure the release of the hostages. Although many families are clearly hopeful that a release will be achieved quite soon, they seem to be dealing with the problem in a more patient manner than recently. Most are not permitting themselves to be overly optimistic. They were also briefed on all aspects of the Hostage Relief Act and its implementation. A major benefit of the meeting was the mutual support family members derived from talking and spending time with one another. DECLASSIFIED SEERET/SENSITIVE RDS-1 12/14/00 Per; Rac Project ESDN; NLC-2-33-5-80 BY HGR NARA_DAIE 7/13/2015 \