Iran receives an initial covert TOW shipment

David Kimche discussed renewed contact with Iran with Robert McFarlane. The proposed channel linked Iranian help with American hostages in Lebanon to reciprocal U.S. gestures, potentially including...

Kimche asked McFarlane whether Washington would permit Israeli sales of U.S.-made weapons to Iran and replenish Israel’s stocks. The talks helped turn a proposed political opening into an arms...

Iran’s Majlis approved renewing oil supplies to Syria for another year. The parliamentary act helped sustain economic support for Iran’s important Arab ally.

An Iraqi air raid damaged Kharg Island’s T-junction loading pier. The attack threatened the oil-export facilities supporting Iran’s wartime revenues.

Ali Khamenei won a second presidential term while the war continued. Only three candidates were approved to run; former prime minister Mehdi Bazargan was disqualified.

MEES reported a Tehran trade agreement increasing Pakistan’s planned Iranian crude purchases from 10,000 to 20,000 barrels daily. The deal sought to expand bilateral exchanges during the war.

An Israeli-chartered aircraft delivered 408 TOW missiles to Iran. The covert supply channel offered Tehran U.S.-origin equipment while the war with Iraq continued.

American hostage Benjamin Weir was released in Beirut one day after Iran received a further TOW shipment. His release became a central result of the emerging arms-for-hostages channel.

Hossein Ali Montazeri wrote to Khomeini criticizing the war’s costs and rivalry between the Army and Revolutionary Guards. He urged more coordinated leadership and greater attention to expert advice.

Ghorbanifar met U.S. and Israeli contacts in Washington and sought HAWK, Sidewinder, Harpoon and Phoenix missiles. The meeting records Iran-related procurement requests, not delivery of every weapon...