ISRAEL TOLD U.S. 'AFTER THE FACT' ABOUT IRAN OIL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: STARGATE
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP96-00789R000400020004-2
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 4, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 25, 1998
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: December 20, 1989
• Content Type: NSPR

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Israel told the United States last . said, "Foreign .countries do not seek promised to ; respect that prohibi-
month that it had agreed to' pur- U.S. approval for oil purchases from Pion
chase a substantial quantity of oil. a third country," adding. that the According to NBC, the oil deal
from Iran, the State Department United .,States has not- changed its . was arranged by Uri Lubrani, who
said yesterday.,. policy of refusing to make deals for served as Israeli ambassador in
Department spokesman. Margar- release of the hostages. . Tehran before the fall of Shah Mo-
et Tutwiler acknowledged that the Other administration sources said hammed Reza Pahlavi and who
United States was advised "after flatly that neither the White House more recently. has been coordinator
the fact." The transaction`. was re- nor"the State Department had said of Israeli policy toward Lebanon.
vealed Monday by NBC.News anything that could be interpreted Influential military, intelligence
NBC said Israel paid $36 million as a U.S. go-ahead for Israel's and diplomatic circles in Israel have
for the oil to help Iran bolster its course. said the country needs to seek better
military defenses against Iraq and NBC also said Israel had- `4is- relations with Iran, despite the
to encourage Iran to use its. influ- cussed the possibility of selling Iran strongly anti-Zionist and.anti-West-
ence with radical groups in Lebanon spare parts.. for its t,litary equip- ern attitudes of. its revolutionary
holding three Israeli soldiers,, eight ment, which is largely of :U S: man- government. It was . partly in re-
Americans and other 'foreigners ufacture Tutwiler said;: Israel is spouse. to this Israeli argument that
hostage. aware. that it cannot sell any equip- President Ronald Reagan authorized
Tod 6ai rtR s+aa Sao 1j0jhe ;ID1 R -OO ROOO 4O0 !U4 -2T S.
move had been approved by the*. containing U.S. technology without arms to Iran in hopes it would lead to
United States.' However, Tutwiler Washington's approval and has freedom for American hostages.