HUGHES-RYAN FINDING ON PROPOSED IRAN RESCUE OPERATION

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 15791848
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: May 4, 2020
• Case Number: F-2013-00944
• Publication Date: November 15, 1979

Approved for Release: 2020/02/27 C01430795
y9.17.in
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
15 November 1979
SUBJECT: Hughes-Ryan Finding on Proposed Iran Rescue Operation
1. On 15 November at 9:20 a.m. the DCI and I met with
Dr. Brzezinski. Noting that contingency planning was moving
forward on a possible Iran rescue operation, the DCI said we
should begin to discuss legal constraints. -�Specifically, it
appeared to us that if our people became involved in providing
support in the form of documentation to Delta force people being
introduced into Iran this could fall under Hughes-Ryan. We were
not sure, however, and thought it best to consult the Attorney
General.
2. Dr. Brzezinski emphatically stated that the President
did not wish to have anybody else knowledgeable of this planning.
He wondered why a finding was needed just for the purpose of
providing documentation. I said the documentation was being pro-
vided for people who would be used for purposes other than the
collection of intelligence. Dr. Brzezinski said this would not be
the case since the early military people going-in would-be those-- -
providing intelligence and other support. In any event it would
not be appropriate to consult the Attorney General at this time.
3. Two hours later in a separate meeting the DCI raised the
question of legal authority with Secretary of Defense Brown, asking
if Defense planned to operate under the War Powers Act. Brown had
obviously not given it a lot of thought, but said he believed that
would be the case. We indicated that if the President did operate
under the War Powers Act, this eliminated our legal problem with
regard to Hughes-Ryan.
ucci
Deputy irector of Central Intelligence
cc: DCI (handcarried in sealed envelope)
General Counsel
f!:
Approved for Release: 2020/02/27 C01430795