Iran Update: November 9, 1979

This document is a November 9, 1979 Department of State memorandum to the Secretary from David D. Newsom and Harold H. Saunders providing an update on the Iran hostage crisis.

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BECRET/NODIS DEPARTMENT OF STATE Washington, D.C. 20520 9th" 1 MEMORANDUM TO THE SECRETARY FROM: P - David D. Newsom NEA - Harold H. Saunders SUBJECT: Iran Update - November 9, 1979 Today's Objectives -- Intensify our initiatives with the students on the compound to improve conditions for the hostages. -- Stimulate Iranian sympathy for the plight of the hostages and concern for their national reputa- tion by increasing pressure from humanitarian organizations, Third World countries, and private individuals who are well known to Iranian leaders. -- Formulate a basket of proposals which could be presented to the Iranians by an intermediary and which might give them a. face-saving means of releasing the hostages. - In the SCC the discussion will focus primarily on the reaction to the oil decision and possible further action on Iranian students. -- We in the Department will be addressing the questions of the PLO and the Clark mission. Current Initiatives -- We are telephoning messages from the dependents to a student on the compound for delivery to the hostages. The student has promised to consider trans- mitting messages from the hostages in reply. He is also considering our request to speak to the Iranian doctor on the compound. He has declined our request for the names of the hostages. We will continue to GECRET/NODIS DECLASSIRIED Per; Rac Project ESDN; NLC- 6-32-3-15 BY. a NARA, DATE 7/21/15