'COERCIVE ACTIONS' ON IRAN CONSIDERED

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000101020049-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 20, 2010
• Sequence Number: 49
• Publication Date: April 13, 1980
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/20: CIA-RDP90-00552R000101020049-6
Z E APPEARED
ON PAGE:
'coEaciVE
ACTIONS'
ON IRAN
CONSIDERED
Carter Weigfing New Steps Short
It
of Outright Military Moves
By BERNARD GWERTZMAN
Special toTir. New York Times
\W S5INGTON. April 12 -? President
Carter, acknowledging that the, latest
economic and political sanctions will
probably not force Iran to free the hos-
tages, says that he is considering further
"coercive action" shortof military force.
In _an interview with out-of-town edi-
torsf conducted yesterday and made pub--
lic today, Mr. Carter refused to foreclose
the possible use of military power.
"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 1
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 to Give Details
Asked how likely such a decision was,
he replied, "I would rather not comment
any further."
On another matter. the President en-
dorsed the policy, disclosed by Adm.
Stansfield Turner, Director of Coral 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 oppos tote policy as leop-
ar izing Me integrity o correspondent
s.
.Mr. Carter sat : "In a rapid y c ang-
ing international situation, where on oc-
casion our nation's own security or exist-
ence might be t reatened, we do not want
to publicly foreclose the option of taking
certain action that might necessary.'
"I think Admiral Turner expressed the
policy accurate y, the resident said.
"we are not now using any newspeople.
This would done only under extreme
circumstances and the personal approval
o either Admiral Turner or myself would
reauir
Mr. Carter said there was a "similar
question" in using other professions such
as'clergymen or schoolteachers, and hej
NEW YORK TIMES
13 APRIL 1980
indicated that he did not want to rule out
wing anyone if necessary.
In fhe Trani- iii`osiage crisis, the Presi-
dent announced. on Monday that the
United States was severing diplomatic
relations with Iran, imposing a ban on ex-
ports, canceling' outstanding visas for.
Iranians to enter the United States and in-
vestigating the use of $8 billion in seized
Iranian assets to pay American claims.
F 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-
ing our military options. We are consider-
ing what we will do next."
The United States has made an effort
,
so far not particularly successful, 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
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 -
a naval blockade or the mining of harbors l
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
Pakistan, which have stated that in a
military 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 tl~e new
sanctions, the United States asked its;
allies to take fire measures, includingi
the-withdrawal of ambassadors and pos-
sibly the breaking of relations, but they.
have decided to respond differently. ;
h Today they called on President Abol-
hassan Bani-Sadr of Iran to set a date for
the release of the hostages. The Western
ambassadors will now return home to re-
port. This has the effect of a withdrawal I
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..
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-RDP90-00552R000101020049-6