'COERCIVE ACTIONS' ON IRAN CONSIDERED

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110065-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 20, 2010
• Sequence Number: 65
• Publication Date: April 13, 1980
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/20: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110065-7
ON PA %RTICLE APP.,E /ED
ON PAGE
'C0E6C1VE AGTIOi1S'
ON JRAN CONSIDERED
Carter Weighing New Steps Short
ofOutrignt Military Moves
By BERNARD GWERTZMAN
Special to The NewYorlt Times
iINGTON; April 12
-? President
Carter, acknowledging. . th at. the. latest
economic and political: sanctions will
probably not force. Iran to free the hos-
tages, says that he is considering further
"coercive action" shorrof military force.
Inman..interview-.without-of-town edi
torsrr.conducted yesterday and made pub-'
-Iiic today, Mr. Carter refused to foreclose
the possible use of militarypower.. -.
"We obviously have reserved for our-
selves the right to use any means permit-
ted under international"- law," he said,
"and since we are a seriously aggrieved
party with our own nationals being held
and our own embassy grounds being
taken, this would not foreclose the option-
of using military force if I decide it is nec-
essary.-Declines toGiveDetails , .
Asked how likely such a decision was,
he replied, "I would rather not comment
any further."
On another matter, the-President en-
dors the policy, disclosed by Adm.
Stansfield Turner, Director of Central In-
telligence, of allowing the use of journal-
ists for undercover work, a reversal of
the policy of the Ford Administration,
which barred the use of journalists.
At a convention of the American Soci-
-etv of Newspaper Editors, Admiral
Turner became involved in a controversy
with editors opposed to the policy as ~eop-
ar izing ein egn yo c Tres n en s.
.Mr. Carter said: "In a rapidly c anging international situation, where on oc-
casion our nation's own security or exist-
ence might be threatened. we do not want
to publiclyy foreclose the option of tak g
certain action that might necessary."
"I think Admiral TTurner!?Tressed the
policy, accurat y, the President said.
e are not now using any newspeople.
This would one only under extreme.
circumstances and the personal approval
o either mr Turneror myself be regw .
Mr. Carter said there was a "similar
question" in using other professions such
as'clergymen or schoolteachers, and b
NEW YORK TIMES
13 APRIL 1980
indicated that he did not want to rule out
using anyone it - necessary.
{ Tn tt~e Iranian - ostage crisis, the Presi-
dent announced on Monday that the
United States was severing diplomatic
I relations with Iran, imposing a ban on ex-
Iranians to enter the United States and in-
vestigating the use of $8 billion In seized
Iranian assets to pay American claims.
In the interview Mr. Carter expressed
doubt that these actions on their own
would compel Iran to free the Americans,
50 held at the embassy and three at the
Foreign Ministry, who ended their 23d
week in captivity today.
"It is hard to predict that unilateral
sanctions on the part of the United States
would be adequate to force them to re-
lease the hostages," he said. "I think our
experience so far has indicated to the con-
trary: We still have additional capabil-
ities of imposing punitive action or coer-
cive action against Iran short of exercis-
ingour military options. We are consider-
ing what we will do next."
The United States has made an effort
so far not particularly successfill, to en-,
list the backing of its allies. Mr. Carter,
to' press his case, taped an interview
today that will be shown -tomorrow on
Western European television stations.
"If we can induce our European allies
~.- the Japanese and others - to join with
a naval
-might be used ultimately.
The United States has also been aware!
that the use of force would endanger the,
lives of the hostages and cause problems:
in relations with Moslem countries likei
1 Pakistan, which have 'stated that in a
militar
y crisis they would side with Iran.
Moreover, the allies have, said that a
conciliatory attitude toward Iran holds a
better chance of success than one of im-
posing harsh measures.
After the announcement of the new
sanctions, the United States asked its;
allies to take firm measures, including.
the.withdrawal of ambassadors and pos,
sibly y the breaking of relations, but they
_
have decided to respond differently. I
Today they called on President Abol-
hassan Bari-Sadr of Iran to set a date for ,
the release of the hostages. The Western
ambassadors will now return home to re-1
port. This has the effect of a withdrawal
of ambassadors, but the action is being
taken without leaving the impression that
the allies are trying to punish Iran for the
hostage crisis. The Americans would'
prefer that the move be more punitive.
In answer to other questions from the
editors on foreign policy, Mr. Carter said
the United States was superior to ' the
Soviet Union in military capability, eco-
nomic capability and political influence..
us in the imposition of sanctions and in
the imposition of diplomatic restraints,
then, of course, it will greatly magnify
the impact of all those sanctions collec-
tively," he told the editors.
.His comments in the interview re-
flected the United States' dilemma in
dealing with the crisis. On the one hand,
Mr. Carter wants to signal the Iranians-
1 and the allies - that he is determined to
push forward on a course of steadily in-
creasing pressure on Iran. To make such.
a course credible, he must include the)
possibility that military force -perhaps `
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/20: CIA-RDP90-00806R000100110065-7