DCI NOTES

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02795327
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: May 4, 2020
• Case Number: F-2013-00944
• Publication Date: January 29, 1980

Approved for Release: 2020/05/04 CO2795327
TOP /SECRET
DCI
29 Jan 80
II Canadian Six Op
Pre-positioned:
"Studio Six" production
group - director, cameraman, etc.
West Coast to HK
4 set passports
pocket litter
reviewed individuals characteristics to fit into legend
Prod Mgr -
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
Assoc Producer -
(b)(1)
came other direction
(b)(3)
Cover to fit CIA persons
Object - scout bazaar for 10 days of filming in Mar
When arrived on 26th - 2 actual, 6 forgeries -
Can Amb said bad time - elections
28th - CIA men escorted their airport - uneventful
Canadian coop superb
Eljnecdote
TOP
SECRET
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
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TOP CRET
III Rescue Op
DCI
29 Jan 80
TOP /SECRET
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TOP7Sc..Rti
TOP 4ECRET
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T�P SECRET
DCI
29 Jan 80
TOPACRET
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7,7 4-1
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Shortly after the overrun of the U.S. Embassy Tehran 4 November,
six official Americans (four male State Department officers and two
of their wives) took refuge in the Canadian Embassy. They remained
there under the protection of the Canadian Ambassador, although
beginning in December the Canadian Government began to grow concerned
over the risks to Canadian interests in Iran implicit in any leaks
regarding the American officials. The State Department turned to the
Agency to formulate contingency exfiltration plans for the six
Americans, and coordination between CIA and the Canadian Government,
began.
The planning culminated with the presentation to Secretary Vance
on 10 January of an operations plan, offering three basic alternative
cover and documentation packages for consideration by Canadian
Ambassador Taylor, in Tehran. It was agreed Taylor would have a major
voice in deciding which cover would be used, and it was acknowledged
the six Americans would have to be polled on their willingness and
ability to live the cover. Once the Secretary's approval had been
secured in principle, the plan was conveyed to the Canadians in Ottawa,
where certain refinements were made and final concurrence acquired.
Activation of the exfiltration plan was then triggered by Ambassador
Taylor at a point in late January when the Canadians themselves had
decided to close their Embassy.
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On 26 January, two specialists from the CIA arrived in Tehran to
provide Ambassador Taylor the necessary technical skills and guidance,
and offer the six exfiltrees needed psychological support and prepping
in their cover legends prior to their exfiltration. The specialists
travelled on non-American documentation, and in alias. Meetings were
held with Ambassador Taylor and the six Americans, and the following
decisions were made, subject to Washington's approval: (a) the six
would leave together, (b) they would exit on Canadian passports and
associated documentation including airline tickets previously pouched
as part of an extensive CIA CIA trough
Canadian facilities, and (c) their cover would be that of a notional
U.S.-based but internationally-financed and staffed film making company.
The legend involved the six as having travelled together as part of
an advance crew which was scouting locations for a film production on
Middle East_mythologies, Tehran being one possible locale. The two
CIA specialists were to also be part of this venture, arriving separately
from Europe and the Far East as producer and production manager. This
entire cover had been fully backstopped by CIA in early January by the
creati n, through cleared film contacts in Hollywood, of the ostensible
film corporation in questioa. The two CIA specialists had actually
obtained Iranian entry visas
under this
cover story.
The arrival in Tehran of the CIA specialists gave them the opportunity
to compare the entry procedures and cachets with those which had been
previously duplicated and pouched into the Canadian Embassy, Tehran.
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Once the CIA specialists were satisfied that their knowledge of Iranian
procedures was indeed current, they made appropriate dugment entries_
into the passports of the six exfiltrees. These entries reflected
apparent arrival in Tehran of the six ostensible Canadian film makers on
26 January from Bangkok, with Iranian entry visas acquired in Ottawa
11 January (these visas were 4argexies, reproduced from an original
acquired on that date in Ottawa). The arrival information in the
passports of the CIA specialists was, of course, genuine.
On 27 January, Canadian Embassy cars took the two CIA specialists
and the six exfiltrees separately to Tehran (Mehrabad) airport. As
pre-planned, the two specialists were positioned to guide the six
through exit formalities in case there was trouble. We do not yet have
a report on happenings at the airport, but Ambassador Taylor's "wheels-up"
cable to Ottawa confirmed that the six exfiltrees, plus two CIA escorts,
were aboard the scheduled Swissair flight for Zurich 27 January.
Arrangements for the reception of the exfiltrees are the
responsibility of the State Department. Particular care is being taken
to insure that knowledge of either the fact or the method of the
exfiltration of these six Americans is kept secret.
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FORM USE PREVIOUS
5-75 101 EDITIONS
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(TEMPO 37472734 0290136Z FRP)
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05/14/ *EYES ONLY* EUR 430
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(170)
IiFo:
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vR, FILE,
FRP: r2r IMP
STAFF
C/CCS, C/EUR...3,
PAGE 001,
TOR: 271637Z JAN 80
SE
CITE
TO! IMMEDIATE DIRECTOR'
R E T 2714552 JAN 80 STAFF
IN.1747273A
NIACT DIRECTOR
WNINTEL RY8AT
REF:
1, FOLLOANQ WAS JUST RECEIVED
TEXT:
HFOLLONING IS :THE OPERATIONS PLAN FOR 28 JAN EXFILTRATION OF .THE
_ . .
HOUSEGUESTS FROM MEHRA8AD.,
(A) COVER...ON THE EVENING 26 JAN AMBASSADOR. TAYLOR AND THE ESCORT
OFFICERS MET 4ITHJHE HOUSEGUESTS AND LAID OUT THE EXFILTRATION
TIME TABLE AND THE VARIOUS COVER OPTIONS. THEY JERE THEN GIVEN THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MEET ALONE AS A GROUP 10 DECIDE wHETHER.THEY:WOULD -
PREFER TO OPT FOR ONE -OVERALL COVER STORY OR INCRErENTAL COVER '
STORIES. THEY UNANIMOUSLY DECIDED TO EMBRACE: THE STUDIO SIX OPTION.
BY BEDTIME THEY WERE ENGAGED 10 A ACTORS WORKSHOP, EACH ONE FALLING
INTO THEIR RESPECTIVE ROLES AS DIRECTOR, CAMERAMAN, ETC.
(6) EXPLANATION FOR PRESENCE IN TEHRAN..ON 12.JAN SIX CON MEMBERS :OF-
A STUDIO SIX ADVANCE CREW DEPARTED TORONTO FOR HKONG:TO SCOUTLOCATIONS
FOR THE PRODUCTION QUOTE ARGO UNOUOTE. THEY JRANSITED'VNCVR-AND.
SEATL AND ARRIVED IN HKONG 0 JI3 JAN. ON 15 JAN THE STUDIO SIX
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, ROBERT SIDELL CALLED THE IRANIAN CONSULATE IN
SFRAN TO INQUIRE THE POSSIBILITY OF ACQUIRING A VISA FOR HIS -
'PRODUCTION MANAGER, NATIONALITY NOT/NOT STATED, TO GO TO TEHRAN FOR
A ONE OR TOO DAY VISIT TO SCOUT THE BAZAAR AS A POSSIBLE IOCATICIN
FOR TEN DAYS OF SHOOTING SCHEDULED FOR MAR OR APR. THIS REQUEST
SEZRET
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