Arming Iran from the heart of Westminster? The Iranian military procurement offices, rumours and intelligence, 1981–1987

ABSTRACT

During the Iran-Iraq war there were extensive rumours in the press regarding Iran’s use of Iranian Military Procurement Offices (IMPOs) in London to purchase arms. This article seeks to interrogate the facts behind these rumours: what was going on inside the IMPOs? How much intelligence did the British government have about this? Not a huge amount – largely a result of the IMPOs being a challenging target and Britain’s intelligence priorities in London lying elsewhere. More broadly the paper seeks to provide insights into the challenges of gathering intelligence from – and responding to the activities of – foreign government targets on home turf, as well as providing insights into an under-considered area of intelligence – that surrounding embargoes and sanctions.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. Hansard, vol.84, col.450, 29 October 1985.

2. “NSC Memorandum: Operation Staunch,” 19 August 1987, https://www.thereaganfiles.com/19870819iran.pdf.

3. See Richard Norton-Taylor, “MoD Sold Chieftain parts to Iran,” The Guardian, 28 September 1985.

4. Miller, Export or Die, 64–69.

5. Gowers, “Iraq Claiming Iran is Still Buying Arms in London.”

6. Phythian, “The Illicit Arms Trade – Cold War and Post-Cold War,” 12.

7. Ibid.

8. Adams, Trading in Death, 129.

9. Miller, Export or Die, 121.

10. Moll with Leapman, Broker of Death, 56.

11. Reeves, “Iran Doesn’t Need A London Office to Know Where to Get its Guns,”; and Norton-Taylor, “Britain Throws Out Iranian Arms Buyers.”

12. The earliest reference to these bodies is paperwork from 1978 that refers to a ‘Logistics Support Centre (Europe)’ in Kensington managed by a ‘Chief’, an Imperial Iranian Air Force Colonel. Sheridan, “Arms and Iran.”

13. TNA, FCO8/4679, AI Aust to Mr Mowforth, P& C, 16 January 1982.

14. TNA, FCO8/6666, Background Note: Iranian offices at 4 Victoria Street”, undated c. July 1987.

15. TNA, FCO8/4102, HDAC Miers to Sir J Graham, 13 August 1981.

16. TNA, FCO8/4679, “Iranian Diplomatic premises in London: Note By an Interdepartmental Group of Officials” (draft), undated (c. 20 January 1982).

17. TNA, FCO8/4103, HDAC Miers to Sir J Graham, 11 August 1981.

18. TNA, FCO8/4679, Telegram Number 11 of 13 January 2013 January 1982; and FCO8/4679, HDAC Miers to Mr Moberly, 18 January 1982.

19. See note 16 above.

20. TNA, FCO8/4679, AI Aust to Mr Mowforth, P&C, 16 January 1982.

21. Ibid.,

22. Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961.

23. TNA, FCO8/4679, HDAC Miers to Mr Moberly, 18 January 1982.

24. Ibid.

25. Ibid.,

26. TNA, FCO8/4679, JC Moberly to PS/PUS, 18 January 1982.

27. TNA, FCO 8/4679, HDAC Miers to Mr Moberly, 20 January 1982.

28. See note 16 above.

29. Ibid.,

30. DoT became DTI in 1983. TNA, FCO 8/4679, HDAC Miers to Mr Moberly, 20 January 1982.

31. TNA, FCO8/4679, Telegram Number 25 of 22 January 2022 January 1982.

32. TNA, FCO8/4679, Telegram Number 30 of 29 January 2029 January 1982.

33. TNA, FCO8/4679, WG Clare to Mr Wogan, 1 February 1982.

34. See note 32 above.

35. Ibid.,

36. Error in TNA, FCO8/4672, speaking note attached to WG Clare to N J Barrington Esq, 1 February 1982; and TNA, FCO8/4672, WG Clare to Mr Coates, 12 January 1982.

37. TNA, FCO8/4672, HDAC Miers to JG Pilling, 16 February 1982.

38. Ibid.,

39. TNA, FCO8/4672, RJA Martin to Mr J G Pilling, 8 February 1982.

40. United Press International, “Arms Deals Channelled through Iranian Office, Sources Say”; and Johns, “Why Iran Valued Its London Arms Purchase Office.”

41. “Les Attentats de Paris: Une Piste à Londres”; and Hansard, vol.112, col.924, 18 March 1987.

42. Beeston, “Crisis in the White House: London may be vital link in Tehran war effort”; and See for example: Campaign Against the Arms Trade, “Iran: The London Link.”

43. Rempel and Green, “London Center of Iran Arms Smuggling.”

44. Shaw and Rempel, “Billion-Dollar Iran Arms Search Spans U.S., Globe.”

45. Ibid.,

46. “5 Charged in Plot to Ship Materiel to Iran During the Hostage Crisis”; and ‘2 Under Arrest in Iran Arms Plot are Suspects in Previous Dealings.”

47. Rempel and Green, “London Center of Iran Arms Smuggling,”; and Blumenthal, “A Shadowy Side of the Arms Trade.”

48. See note 43 above.

49. See note 44 above.

50. Roller and Major, “Ramifications of Illegal U.S. Arms Exports,” 49.

51. Fisk, “Saddam Thirsty for Weapons.”

52. Roller and Major, “Ramifications of Illegal U.S. Arms Exports,” 97, 112.

53. TNA, FCO8/6326, PJ Westmacott to Mr Day, 8 September 1986.

54. Teimourian, “Britain Admits Selling Tank Spares to Tehran.”

55. “Les Attentats de Paris: Une Piste à Londres.”

56. TNA, FCO8/6326, Tel No.960 of 271047Z September 86, 27 September 1986.

57. Ibid.,

58. TNA, FCO8/4679, Telegram Number 151 of 29 April, 29 April 1982.

59. TNA, FCO8/4679, JG Pilling to D Miers Esq, 19 July 1982.

60. TNA, FCO8/4679, JG Pilling to D Miers Esq, 19 July 1982.

61. Ibid.,

62. See TNA, FCO8/5595, “Export Licenses Issues for the Supply of Defence Equipment to Iran – 1983,” undated.

63. The case only appears a couple of times in later FCO files – see for example, TNA, FCO8/6326, “Iranian Military Procurement Offices in London, Question and Answer Brief (revised edition),” 9 September 1986.

64. No mention of licenses for ejector seat cartridges is made in similar lists to that cited in fn62 for 1981 or 1982.

65. In 1984, the IMPOs were on the CIA’s radar, a report noting ‘Iran’s main arms procurement efforts are directed by the Ministry of Defense, which maintains several purchasing offices in Europe and the Far East. These offices seek out supplies, sign contracts and make payments for arms purchased’. Director of Intelligence, “Iran-Iraq: Buying Weapons for War,” May 1984, CIA-RDP85T00283R000500120005-5, 2.

66. Adler, “Seven Charged in Plot to Send War Goods to Iran.”

67. TNA, FCO 8/5950, Tel No. 488 of 231030Z September 85, 23 September 1985.

68. TNA, FCO 8/5950, Tel No. 352 of 261000Z September 85, 26 September 1985.

69. Ibid.,

70. TNA, FCO 8/5950, BV Erry to MR COLLINS, 24 October 1985; and TNA, FCO 8/5950, DS Walwyn to Mr Collins, 3 December 1985.

71. TNA, FCO 8/5950, DS Walwyn to Mr Collins, 3 December 1985.

72. TNA, FCO8/5934, AS Collins to Mr Egerton, 5 December 1985.

73. TNA, FCO8/5950, AS Collins to Mr Crowley, PUSD, 1 November 1985.

74. Hosenball and Witherow, “British Role in Iranian Arms Deals Angers US.”

75. TNA, FCO8/5950, GH Boyce to Mr Collins, 8 October 1985.

76. See note 73 above.

77. Emphasis in original. TNA, FCO8/5934, DS Walwyn to Mr Collins, 3 December 1985.

78. TNA, FCO8/5950, DS Walwyn to Mr Collins, 3 December 1985.

79. Ibid.,

80. See note 72 above.

81. TNA, FCO8/6345, DS Walwyn to Mr Anderson and others, 2 May 1986.

82. Ibid.,

83. Ibid.,

84. TNA, FCO8/6326, AS Collins to RS Edwards Esq, 22 April 1986.

85. TNA, FCO8/6345, DS Walwyn to RL Embleton Esq, 13 May 1986.

86. Ibid.,

87. Ibid.,

88. Coe, “Sheep Slaughtered by Iranians in London Street”; and See TNA, FCO8/6348, Tel No. 289 of 121654Z September 86, 12 September 1986.

89. TNA, FCO8/6326, Teleletter NBP 087/8 of 060835Z June 86, 6 June 1986.

90. TNA, FCO8/6326, PS Collecott to Mr Bentley, MVD, 16 June 1986.

91. TNA, FCO8/6326, SP Day to AR Rawsthorne Esq, 18 June 1986.

92. Ibid.,

93. TNA, FCO8/6326, Background Note, undated (c. June 1986).

94. TNA, FCO8/6326, PS Collecott to Mr Day, 16 June 1986.

95. TNA, FCO8/6326, PS Collecott to Mr Boyce, 28 July 1986.

96. See note 43 above.

97. TNA, FCO8/4100, Teleletter FM HDAC Miers, Middle East Dept Dated 27 August 1981, 27 August 1981.

98. TNA, FCO8/4103, QF Heim to Mr Coates, 18 September 1981.

99. TNA, FCO8/4103, D Coates to Mr Wogan, 30 September 1981.

100. TNA, DEFE24/2660, Cambaria Aircraft Sales Ltd to Mr Aziz, 18 October 1982.

101. TNA, DEFE24/2660, F.R.Beckett to Mr. Wade, 15 November 1982.

102. Moll, Broker of Death, 56.

103. Millward, “Iran Arms Clampdown Likely.”

104. Wright, Spycatcher.

105. Andrew, The Defence of the Realm, 336.

106. Ibid, 333.

107. Easter, “Soviet Bloc and Western Bugging of Opponents’ Diplomatic Premises During the Early Cold War.”

108. Shane and Bowman, “Rigging the Game”; and Miller and Mueller, “CIA Window into Major Human Rights Abuses in South America.”

109. TNA, FCO8/5623, RAM Hendrie to Mr Davies, 7 June 1984; and Meier, “Encryption Using Mechanical “Calculators”,” 12.

110. Director of Intelligence, “Iran-Iraq: Buying Weapons for War,” May 1984, CIA-RDP85T00283R000500120005-5.

111. TNA, FCO8/4679, “Iranian Diplomatic premises in London: Note By an Interdepartmental Group of Officials,” undated (c. 4 February 1982).

112. TNA, FCO8/4672, RJA Martin to D Coates Esq, 10 February 1982.

113. Ibid.,

114. TNA, FCO8/4679, GH Phillips to Mr Halliday, 24 February 1982.

115. TNA, FCO 8/6326, DS Walwyn to Rosalind Benedyk, 12 May 1986; and TNA, FCO8/6326, P J Westmacott to Mr Day, 16 May 1986.

116. TNA, FCO8/6326, PS Collecott to J Gallagher Esq, 31 October 1986.

117. TNA, FCO8/6326, PS Collecott to Mr Day, 2 June 1986.

118. TNA, FCO8/6326, DS Walwyn to Rosalyn Benedyk, 4 June 1986.

119. TNA, FCO8/6326, AS Collins to Mr Boyce, 22 May 1986.

120. TNA, FCO8/6326, AS Collins to Mr Day, 30 May 1986.

121. TNA, FCO8/6326, annotation on P S Collecott to Mr Boyce, 28 July 1986.

122. 33(b) of the immigration rules provided an exemption for ‘persons coming for employment by an overseas government.”

123. TNA, FCO8/6326, RA McDowall to G Boyce Esq, 13 November 1986.

124. See note 116 above.

125. TNA, FCO8/6326, “Note of a Meeting with KALA at 4 Victoria Street on 21 October 1986, undated.

126. TNA, FCO8/4672, NA Ling to FS(E), 25 January 1982; and FCO8/6326, “Note of a Meeting with KALA at 4 Victoria Street on 21 October 1986, undated.

127. TNA, FCO8/4679, GH Phillips to Mr Halliday, 24 February 1982; and TNA, FCO8/6472, R J A Martin to Mr J G Pilling, 8 February 1982.

128. TNA, FCO8/6345, Teleletter of 27054OZ March 86, 2 March 1986.

129. Ibid.,

130. TNA, FCO8/6326, PS Collecot to J Gallagher Esq, 2 September 1986.

131. TNA, FCO8/6326, PJ Westmacott to Mr Day, 16 May 1986.

132. TNA, FCO8/4672, WG Clare to Mr Coates, 12 January 1982.

133. TNA, FCO8/5950, Tel No. 618 of 080730Z December 1985, 8 December 1985.

134. See note 93 above.

135. Hawkes and Bazoft, ”Iranian Arms Team is Ready to Quit Britain”.

136. TNA, FCO8/6666, “Background Note: Iranian Offices at 4 Victoria Street,” undated (c. June 1987).

137. TNA, FCO8/6831, Tel No. 409 of 220024Z September 87, 22 September 1987.

138. Ibid.,

139. TNA, FCO8/6831, CD Powell to Lyn Parker, 22 September 1987.

140. Ibid.

141. TNA, FCO8/6831, Tel No. 419 of 221200Z September 87, 22 September 1987.

142. “Alleged Illegal Arms Sales to Iran Probed.”

143. TNA, FCO8/6831, Tel No. 419 of 221200Z September 87, 22 September 1987.

144. TNA, FCO8/6831, L Parker to CD Powell Esq, 22 September 1987.

145. United Nations, ”Forty-second session General Assembly Provisional Verbatim of the Eighth Meeting”, A/42/PV.8, Wednesday 23 September 1987.

146. Ibid.

147. TNA, FCO8/6831, ”Note Verbale”, 23 September 1987.

148. TNA, FCO8/6831, Tel No.454 of 231830Z September 87, 23 September 1987.

149. Hansard, vol.125, col.206, 12 January 1988.

150. Dickie, “Iran’s Arms Dealers Told to Quit Britain.”

151. “Foreign News Brief”; and Reeves, “Iran Doesn’t Need a London Office to Know Where to Get its Guns.”

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Daniel Salisbury

Daniel Salisbury is a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow at the Centre for Science and Security Studies (CSSS) within the Department of War Studies at King’s College London. He is also a Non-Resident Associate at the Project on Managing the Atom at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and a Non-Resident Fellow at the Henry L. Stimson Center. Daniel previously held positions at the Belfer Center, the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, King’s College London and the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Daniel is the author of Secrecy, Public Relations and the British Nuclear Debate: How the UK government learned to talk about the bomb, 1970-83.