corrected to viable, stable parties in Iran remains to be seen. It could be that these people are no more than self-serving, self-promoters who seek to curry favor with an element of the military these who happen to want TOWs right now. think their risk of exposure again, provides some insurance against that. And Israel is not noted for dealing with fools and

charlatans.

But I would

10. George, I cannot judge the equities on this.
think about
it. But I don't think we should tarry.

We need to

instincts are to see our larger interes: in establishing an entree to someone in Iran and the check provided by the Iranian interlocutor's vulnerability to being "blown as giving us some insurance against perfidy. We could make a tentative show of interest without commitment and see what happens. Or we could On balance I tend to favor going ahead.

walk away. 10. As a final note, and please understand that I intend no comment on the NEA bureau for which I have profound respect, I don't believe this should go beyond you and Charlie Hill. It isn't at all that others lack judgment. It is simply a matter of the potential for compromise as the circle widens which is

axiomatic.

HECRETY SENSITIVE

:

11.

return to Israel on Tuesday.

We should

give hip some signal by then, preferably on Monday Washington
time. I will await and abide fully by your decision.

12. Finally, the President has been in the operating room fc: 1
hours. I will keep you advised.

Warm Regards, Bud

P.S. I have just received word from Don Regan that the operation has been completed and was entirely successful.

UNCLASSIFIED

RCM

2

SEELER ENTIRE TEXT.

PLEASE HAVE FOLLOWING MESSAGES TYPES ON PLAIN BOND
AND HAND-CARRIED E 0. TO BUS. ENVELOPE MUST BE GIVEN
DIRECTLY TO M. AND OPENED BY NIM AND NO ONE E.SE

J DEAR BUD.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR MESSAGE ON THE ISRAEL IRAN CONTACT
I AGREE WITH YOU THAT WE SHOULD MAKE A TENTATIVE SHOW
OF INTEREST WITHOUT COMMITMENT DO NOT THINK WE COULD
JUSTIFY TURNING OUR BACKS OR THE PROSPECT OF GAINING
THE RELEASE OF THE OTHER SEVEN HOSTAGES AND PERHAPS
DEVELOPING AN ABILITY TO RENEW TIES WITH IRAN UNDER A
MORE SENSIBLE REG: ME ESPECIALLY WHEN PRESENTED TO

..

US THROUGH THE PR: ME MINISTER OF SRAEL

UNCLASSIFIED

2241

EXHIBIT

GPS-10

FURTHER JOREE W 4 JJ THAT "hig
MPONJERABLES THAT CALL FOR

74 98 139 4:15 COVERED
WOULD ONLUNDERSCORE A

GREAT CAUTION ON JJR PART
THEM ALL IN OUR MESSAGE
COUPLE OF THEM THE FRAUD THAT SEEMS TO COMPANY SO
MANY SEALS VOLVING ARMS AND TRAN AND THE COMPLICATIONS
AR SING FROM OUR BLESSING AN SRAEL RAN RELATIONSHIP
WHERE SRAEL S NTERESTS AND CURS ARE NOT NECESSARILY
THE SAME

S I SUGGEST AND YOUR MESSAGE NDICATES YOU LEAN
THIS WAY TOO THAT WE GIVE THE EMISSARY A POSITIVE
BUT PASSIVE REPLY THAT IS TELL HIM THAT HE MAY CONVEY

TO MIS IRANIAN CONTACTS THAT THE US HAS BEEN INFORMED
OF THE IRANIAN PROPOSAL AND IS RECEPTIVE TO THE IDEA OF
A PRIVATE DIALOGUE INVOLVING A SUSTAINED DISCUSSION OF
USRANIAN RELATIONS. IN OTHER WORDS WE ARE WILLING
TO LISTEN AND SERIOUSLY CONSIDER ANY STATEMENT ON THIS
TOPIC THEY MAY WISH TO INITIATE

6 ::VEN THE NATURE OF THIS MATTER I AM INCLINED TO
THINK IT SHOULD BE MARAGED BY YOU PERSONALLY ITS
SENSITIVITY REQUIRES HIGH-LEVEL MANAGEMENT. BUT THAT
IN TURN RAISES THE LIKELIHOOD OF DISCLOSURE. BUT THIS
IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN GO OVER MORE CAREFULLY AFTER
I GET BACK. I DO THINK IT IMPORTANT THAT YOU MAKE
CLEAR TO THE EMISSARY THAT YOU AND I ARE IN CLOSE
CONTACT AND FULL AGREEMENT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
THIS IS ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT IN VIEW OF THE PRESENT
LACK OF UNITY AND FULL COORDINATION ON THE ISRAELI
SIDE

7 THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR MESSAGE. I CAN ONLY

REITERATE HOW MUCH I VALUE OUR CLOSE CONSULTATION
AND FRIENDSHIP

UNCLASSIFIED