Iran Update: December 29, 1979

This document is a December 28, 1979 Department of State Briefing Memorandum providing an update on the Iran hostage crisis.

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18 DEPARTMENT OF STATE $ BRIEFING MEMORANDUM this S/S December 28, 1979 SECRET/SENSITIVE TO: The Secretary FROM: P - Mr. . Newsom NEA - Harold H. Saunders public SUBJECT: Iran Update: December 29,1979 Today's Objectives: -- To continue our work in New York towards approval of a resolution on sanctions. To consider a message to the EC-9 prior to their possible meeting with Khomeini. To take steps that will remove the issue of the status of Iranian Embassy and Consulate employees from our public affairs agenda. -- To follow up on the dependents' meeting with the clergy to assure that all families have been properly notified. Status of Initiatives The Howard/Coffin/Gumbleton group had a very successful two-hour meeting with the hostage families. There was a general discussion along the lines of the meeting with the Secretary (see attached memorandum) followed by individual sessions with each of the families. The clergy will follow up with telephone calls to those who were not present. Confusion on the numbers of hostages observed abounds. After discussion with us, Reverend Howard indicated Richard Queen (previously on the list of seven) as one of the hostages he saw. The removal of Queen SECRET/SENSITIVE DECLASSIFIED Per; Rac Project ESON; NLC-6-32-5-26-6 BY. B NARALOATE 5/18/2015