Palme begins mediation work in Tehran

Brzezinski called for preserving U.S.-Saudi security ties developed during the war. His Gulf framework memorandum also requested a review of policy toward the stalled Iran-Iraq conflict.

Brown proposed bringing forward previously approved Saudi F-15 deliveries. His memorandum linked the issue to preserving Saudi cooperation with U.S. regional security efforts during the war.

UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim appointed Olof Palme to seek a settlement between Iran and Iraq. The mission opened a sustained UN mediation channel.

Hinton and Vest outlined options for a coordinated response to war-related oil shortages. These included import ceilings and emergency sharing, with different consequences for vulnerable consumers.

U.S. energy and foreign-policy ministers proposed coordinated oil allocations and import ceilings. Their memorandum anticipated a prolonged Iran–Iraq war and repairs extending beyond the fighting.

Duncan warned that continuing hostilities could keep Gulf exports depressed into 1981. He urged import restraint and international coordination to reduce the risk of panic buying and higher prices.

Brown recommended retaining the Saudi AWACS deployment while mutually acceptable. He also called for studying the war’s military lessons to test assumptions behind U.S. Persian Gulf strategy.

Iran’s navy, air force, and commandos attacked Iraqi naval and offshore infrastructure. The operation inflicted major losses on Iraq’s maritime capability, while showing that Iran could still...

Duncan reported resistance to binding oil-import ceilings from other consumers and Reagan’s transition team. He sought a standby arrangement for rapid action if the war worsened market pressure.

State Department instructions asked for Saudi help meeting Turkish and Portuguese oil needs. The cable sought replacement supplies and price moderation while Iranian and Iraqi exports remained...