mokhtar@ubc-vision.UUCP (Farzin Mokhtarian) (02/10/86)
Subject: Re: Israel/Iran/Arms Some people have expressed doubts about credibility of my source (Kayhaan newspaper). This source said that Israel has been supplying arms to the Khomeini regime. Others tried to justify Israel's action without ever saying what *their* sources were. Feingold thinks that this group simply took my word for granted! Feingold thinks I am a creep because I took advantage of their trust! To prove what a nice guy I am, I will hereby announce another reference: The Observer (LONDON again!), February 2, 1986 issue, page 19. This one is in English and it is easily available. So Sam Cramer can read it and claim that this too is spreading lies about Israel. The Observer verifies my previous source. It states that "Despite the formal break in relations, Israel *has continued* to supply some arms to Iran..." But the highlight of the article is something else. Observer talks about a secret $1 billion oil-for-arms agreement between Israel and Iran which included operation Flower. The project was to build a surface- to-surface ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead of 750 kg up to 200 kilometers in distance. The agreement was made in 1977 and involved Ezer Weizman and Shimon Perez (then Defence Ministers) and an Iranian general representing the former Shah. Israel entered the agreement because it tried to buy the Pershing I from the U.S. and failed and because it needed to improve the Jericho, a missile that a French company built for Israel in the 60's. US missile expert Richard Sale of Aerospace Daily believes that new improved Jericho-type missiles have now been deployed in the Negev and on the Golan Heights. Farzin Mokhtarian