BC-HOSTAGES-ABC;100

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81B00401R000400160096-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 23, 2005
• Sequence Number: 96
• Publication Date: January 16, 1981
• Content Type: PREL

STAT
OFFICE OF CURRENT OPERATIONS
Bulletin
Item #1
16 Jan
U A BYLZYVZVT 80684
4B , - #~OSTA+GES -A8C s i U
SURGE 1T
IEW YORK (AP) THE UNITED STATES AND IRAN HAVE REACHED "FULL
AGREEMENT" FOR RELEASE OF THE 5 HMERICAN HOSTAGES PENDING ONLY
ACCEPTANCE: OF THE OFFICIAL LANGURGGE5 ROC-#Y SKID FRIDAY.
THE NETWORK SAID WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL LLOYD CUTLER TOLD REPORTERS
"THAT THE AGREEMENT'S LANGUAGE IS BEING WRITTEN NOW. IT SHOULD BE
TRANSMITTED FROM WASHINGTON' THIS EVENING AND SE IN 'IRAN BY TOMORROW
(SATURDAY).'!
#'# SSUMING TEHRAN DOES AGREE TO THE LANGUAGE...RN OFFICIAL
ANNOUNCEMENT COULD BE MADE AS EARLY AS TOMORROWS THE NETWORK SAID.
AP-NY-0 -iE i541EST
Approved For Release 2005111/23 ? CIA-RDPR1 800401 R000d001 AnO96-9
These comments represent the initial reaction of the Office of Current Operations
and of the appropriate production offices in NFAC.
 Approved For Release 2005/11/23 : CIA-RDP81 800401 R000400160096-9
14- ?A229
U W E Y LB`?Y LQYV A06"75
4 -RSSET?S TRANSFER, 25u
;URGENT
+ ITH AM-US-HOSTAGES 8JT
ASHtNGTUN (RP) THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT SAID FRIDAY THE GO-AHEAD
HAS-BEEN GIVEN TO PREPARE FOR THE TRANSFER OF $2,2 BILLION IN IRANIAN
ASSETS TO IRAN IN THE EVENT AN AGREEMENT IS REACHED FOR RELEASE OF
THE 52 AMERICAN HOSTAGES.
TREASURY SPOKESMAN JOSEPH LAITIN EMPHASIZED THAT A FINAL AGREEMENT
HAD NOT BEEN REACHED. HE SAID THE TREASURY ACTION AMOUNTED TO A
tPREPOSITIONING" OF IRANIAN ASSETS TO FACILITATE THE TRANSFER IF IT
i LC_;RS.
AS PART OF THE PREPARRTIONSs LA-ITIN SAID THE U.S. TREASURY IS
TRADING 1.6 MILLION OUNCES OF IRANIAN GOLD HELD IN THE UNITED STATES
TO BRITAIN IN EXCHANGE FOR BRITISH-OWNED GOLD IN -LONDON. ME SAID 1.2
BILLION IN U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BEING
CONVERTED TO CASH.
BOTH THE GOLD AND THE SECURITIES WERE AMONG THE- Td BILLION TO $14
BILLION I N IRANIAN ASSETS -THAT WERE FROZEN BY PRE -.I DENT CARTER ON NOV.
i4 s 1979. I N THE EVENT A FINAL AGREEMENT IS REACH-E-05 THE NEWLY
ACSU i RED LEA IN LONDON WOULD BE TRANSFERRED INTO IRANIAN HANDS OR
INTO THE POSSESSION OF A THIRD PARTY,
i
LAITIN SAID THE TWO ACTIONS WOULD MAKE IT EASIER TO TRANSFER THE
MONEY AND GOLD TO IRANI BUT CAUTIONED THAT THE ASSETS WOULD NOT BE
TRANSFERRED UNTIL AN AGREEMENT IS REACHED.
"THIS IS JUST A PRELIMINARY STEP TO POSITIONING- CERTAIN ASSETS"
LAITIN SAID. HOWEVERs IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE ACTION WAS A POSITIVE
STEP THAT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN TAKEN UNLESS OFFICIALS BELIEVED A FINAL
AGREEMENT WAS LIKELY.
AP-NY-O1-i6 1532E5
Approved For Release 2005/11/23 : CIA-RDP81 800401 R000400160096-9