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Leaked Cables on Israel: IIranian Defense Contacts with Israel

(October 3, 1976)

Classified diplomatic cables, leaked by the whistleblower site WikiLeaks, contain accounts of a trip to Israel by Iranian vice minister of war Hassan Toufanian, ostensibly to discuss several joint military projects, such as the 1977 Project Flower.

FM AMEMBASSY Tehran
TO SECSTATE WASHDC

S E C R E T

SUBJ: IRANIAN DEFENSE CONTACTS WITH ISRAEL

1. IN REPLY TO MY INQUIRY, GENERAL HASSAN TOUFANIAN, IRANIAN VICE MINISTER OF WAR, TOLD ME SATURDAY THAT HIS RECENT TRIP TO ISRAEL AND SHIMON PERES' VISIT HERE WERE BASICALLY GET- ACQUAINTED SESSIONS. TOUFANIUN POINTED OUT THAT WAYS WILL BE EXPLORED TO EXPAND MILITARY COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES BUT THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FTR THE PRIME PERSONALITIES TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER FIRST AND TO COME TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER'S PARTICULAR PROBLEMS.

2. COMMENT: TOUFANIAN'S LOOK OF SURPRISE WHEN I ASKED HIM WHAT HAD RESULTED FROM PERES' SECRET VISIT INDICATED CLEARLY THAT HE DID NOT EXPECT ME TO KNOW ABOUT IT. CONSEQUENTLY HIS REPLY, AS SET FORTH ABOVE, WAS GIVEN ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT AND MAY NOT BE THE WHOLE STORY. ON THE OTHER HAND, THESE TWO COUNTRIES WILL NOT HAVE AN EASY TIME COLLABORATING IN THE MILITARY FIELD FOR A VARIETY OF POLITICAL AND TECHNICAL REASONS. HENCE THE COOPERATION HAS PROBABLY NOT ADVANCED VERY FAR AND TOUFANIAN IS UNDOUBTEDLY LEVELLING WITH ME AT THIS POINT.

SECRET


Sources: Tehran09881_b.html" target="_blank">Wikileaks