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Full-text: Public Statements
Iran Air Flight 655 (July 3 1988, 290 victims)

IR655: Public Statements

 

DoD press briefing, Sunday, July 3 1988, 1:30 p.m. EDT, Pentagon: William J. Crowe Jr. (Admiral, U.S. Navy, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff) {separate webpage}.

 

Statement on the Destruction of an Iranian Jetliner by the United States Navy over the Persian Gulf
July 3, 1988

I am saddened to report that it appears that in a proper defensive action by the U.S.S. Vincennes this morning in the Persian Gulf an Iranian airliner was shot down over the Strait of Hormuz. This is a terrible human tragedy. Our sympathy and condolences go out to the passengers, crew, and their families. The Defense Department will conduct a full investigation.

We deeply regret any loss of life. The course of the Iranian civilian airliner was such that it was headed directly for the U.S.S. Vincennes, which was at the time engaged with five Iranian Boghammar boats that had attacked our forces. When the aircraft failed to heed repeated warnings, the Vincennes followed standing orders and widely publicized procedures, firing to protect itself against possible attack.

The only U.S. interest in the Persian Gulf is peace, and this tragedy reinforces the need to achieve that goal with all possible speed.

Source:  1988-89 PPPUS 920 {ucsb, rr}, Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Ronald Reagan, 1988-89 (book 2) {SuDoc: AE 2.114:988-89/BK.2, ISSN: 0079-7626, LCCN: 58061050, OCLC: 9054188, 1198154, GPOcat, paper, DL, WorldCat}.

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Ronald W. Reagan, “Questions and Answers with President Reagan Regarding USS Vincennes Shooting Down of Iranian Aircraft” (White House South Lawn, 12:00 P.M. EDT, Monday, July 4 1988), Federal News Service transcript, AP880704-0133. “The plane began lowering its altitude.”

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CIS: 88 H380-8

Serial Set: 13880 SuDoc: Y 1.1/7:100-210

Hon. Jim Wright,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Speaker:  On July 3, 1988, the USS Vincennes and USS Elmer Montgomery were operating in international waters of the Persian Gulf near the Strait of Hormuz. (On July 2, the Montgomery had responded to a distress signal from a Danish tanker that was under attack by Iranian small boats and had fired a warning shot, which caused the breaking off of the attack.) Having indications that approximately a dozen Iranian small boats were congregating to attack merchant shipping, the Vincennes sent a Mark III Lamps Helicopter on investigative patrol in international airspace to assess the situation. At about 1010 local Gulf time (2:10 a.m. EDT), when the helicopter had approached to within only four nautical miles, it was fired on by Iranian small boats (the Vincennes was ten nautical miles from the scene at this time). The Lamps helicopter was not damaged and returned immediately to the Vincennes.

As the Vincennes and Montgomery were approaching the group of Iranian small boats at approximately 1042 local time, at least four of the small boats turned toward and began closing in on the American warships. At this time, both American ships opened fire on the small craft, sinking two and damaging a third. Regrettably, in the course of the U.S. response to the Iranian attack, an Iranian civilian airliner was shot down by the Vincennes, which was firing in self defense at what it believed to be a hostile Iranian military aircraft. We deeply regret the tragic loss of life that occurred. The Defense Department will conduct a full investigation.

The actions of U.S. forces in response to being attacked by Iranian small boats were taken in accordance with our inherent right of self-defense, as recognized in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, and pursuant to my constitutional authority with respect to the conduct of foreign relations and as Commander in Chief. There has been no further hostile action by Iranian forces, and, although U.S. forces will remain prepared to take additional defensive action to protect our units and military personnel, we regard this incident as closed. U.S. forces suffered no casualties or damage.

Since March 1987, I and members of my Administration have provided to Congress letters, reports, briefings, and testimony in connection with developments in the Persian Gulf and the activities of U.S. Armed Forces in the region. In accordance with my desire that Congress continue to be fully informed in this matter, I {p.2} am providing this report consistent with the War Powers Resolution. I look forward to cooperating with Congress in pursuit of our mutual, overriding aim of peace and stability in the Persian Gulf region.

Sincerely,

O

Ronald Reagan (U.S. President), Report on United States Military Action (White House, July 4 1988) (U.S. Congress 100-2, House Document 100-210, July 6 1988) {SuDoc: Y 1.1/7:100-210, Serial Set: 13880, CIS: 88 H380-8, OCLC: 18239512, GPOcat, paper, microfiche, DL, WorldCat}, reprinted, “Letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate on the Destruction of an Iranian Jetliner by the United States Navy Over the Persian Gulf” (July 4 1988) (“Dear Mr. Speaker (Dear Mr. President)”), 1988-89 PPPUS 920-921 (book 2) {ucsb, rr} (“Note: Identical letters were sent to Jim Wright, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and John C. Stennis, President pro tempore of the Senate. The letter was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on July 5”).

 

Informal Exchange with Reporters
July 11, 1988

Compensation for Iranian Jetliner Victims

Question: Mr. President, have you made a decision on compensation for the families of the victims of the airliner in Iran?

The President: Well, I, from the first, have said we’re a compassionate people, and I think that we all have compassion for the families of those unfortunate people who were on that plane. And later today there will be a statement with regard to that.

Question: I assume it’s going to be in the affirmative.

Question: Are you worried about American public opinion, Mr. President, being opposed to compensating the victims’ families?

The President: I think that they have tied that to our feelings about the Government and what it did with regard to our people in the Embassy there when the Ayatollah came in. And I want to make it plain that there’s certainly going to be no compensation for the Government of Iran or anything of that kind, because we don’t feel that any such thing is called for. But as I’ve said, I think we all can have compassion for the innocent people who were the victims.

Question: How much? How much are you going to give?

Question: Mr. President, we’ve been told that there are those who oppose this in the Government on the grounds that it sets a bad precedent.

The President: I don’t ever find compassion a bad precedent.

Question: How much money do you think it will involve?

The President: Don’t know.

Question: Do you have to get congressional approval for that or send a bill to Congress, Mr. President?

The President: Well, there are some details about that that are still being considered and worked out.

Attorney General

Question: Do you have a replacement for Meese yet?

The President: Well, there will be an announcement coming shortly on that, too. ...

Note:  The exchange began at 10:42 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White House, prior to a meeting with President Jose Napoleon Duarte Fuentes of El Salvador.

Source:  1988-89 PPPUS 934 (book 2) {ucsb, rr}.

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Statement by Assistant to the President for Press Relations Fitzwater on United States policy regarding the accidental attack on an Iranian Jetliner Over the Persian Gulf
July 11, 1988

The President has reviewed U.S. policy in the Persian Gulf, where our military forces are protecting vital interests of the free world. He has expressed his complete satisfaction with the policy and reiterated his belief that the actions of the U.S.S. Vincennes on July 3 in the case of the Iranian airliner were justifiable defensive actions. At the same time, he remains personally saddened at the tragic death of the innocent victims of this accident and has already expressed his deep regret to their families. {p.935}

Prompted by the humanitarian traditions of our nation, the President has decided that the United States will offer compensation on an ex gratia basis to the families of the victims who died in the Iranian airliner incident. Details concerning amounts, timing, and other matters remain to be worked out. It should be clearly understood that payment will go to the families, not governments, and will be subject to the normal U.S. legal requirements, including, if necessary, appropriate action by Congress. In the case of Iran, arrangements will be made through appropriate third parties. This offer of ex gratia compensation is consistent with international practice and is a humanitarian effort to ease the hardship of the families. It is offered on a voluntary basis, not on the basis of any legal liability or obligation.

The responsibility for this tragic incident, and for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of other innocent victims as a result of the Iran-Iraq war, lies with those who refuse to end the conflict. A particularly heavy burden of responsibility rests with the Government of Iran, which has refused for almost a year to accept and implement Security Council Resolution 598 while it continues unprovoked attacks on innocent neutral shipping and crews in the international waters of the Gulf.

In fact, at the time of the Iran Air incident, U.S. forces were militarily engaged with Iranian forces as a result of the latter’s unprovoked attacks upon neutral ships and a U.S. Navy helicopter. The urgent necessity to end this conflict is reinforced by the dangers it poses to neighboring countries and the deplorable precedent of the increasingly frequent use of chemical weapons by both sides, causing still more casualties.

Only an end to the war, an objective we desire, can halt the immense suffering in the region and put an end to innocent loss of life. Our goal is peace in the Gulf and on land. We urge Iran and Iraq to work with the Security Council for an urgent comprehensive settlement of the war pursuant to Resolution 598. Meanwhile, United States forces will continue their mission in the area, keenly aware of the risks involved and ready to face them.

Source: 1988-89 PPPUS 934-935 {pdf, ucsb, rr}.

 

George H.W. Bush (U.S. Vice President, Jan. 20 1981-1989 Jan. 20), remarks, U.N. Security Council, New York City, July 14 1988):

{To come}

Source: Prepared statement, transcript, “Provisional Verbatim Record of the Two Thousand Eight Hundred and Eighteenth Meeting” (61 pages) {9904kb.pdf}, U.N. Doc. S/PV.2818 (U.N. Security Council Meeting 2818, U.N. Headquarters, New York City, Thursday July 14 1988, 11:00am-1:00pm), C-Span video (request) {2:08:34, smil, July 14/17, 144296342, 3376-1}.

 

Remarks on the Veto of the National Defense Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1989, and a Question-and-Answer Session With Reporters
August 3, 1988 ... {p.1015}

Iranian Jetliner Incident

Helen Thomas: Mr. President, are you ready to retract statements that you made when we downed the Iranian airliner? It seems that the report will show, apparently, according to reports today, that the crew panicked and that actually, you know, this sort of thing could probably happen again.

The President: Well, Helen [Helen Thomas, United Press International], I’ve read and seen and heard what is being said about the report and assigning the blame to the people in the radar room who were interpreting the radar signals and all, but I can’t comment because actually neither the military nor my office have received the report as yet. And as soon as we receive it and can go over it and study it ourselves, then we’ll be able to comment, but—

Helen Thomas: You have no preliminary indications of—

The President: No, and I don’t think that we could consider the report final until it has been submitted now. And how it has escaped before this took place— I have to feel the process has not been concluded.

Source: 1988-89 PPPUS 1013-1017, at 1015 (book 2) {ucsb, rr}.

 

DoD press briefing, August 19 1988, Pentagon, Friday, 11:00 a.m.: Frank C. Carlucci (Secretary of Defense), William J. Crowe Jr. (Admiral, U.S. Navy, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff), William M. Fogarty (Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy, U.S. Central Command), C-Span video 4065-1 {44:55, 50mb.rm}, broadcast 1988 August 19 8:04-8:49pm, August 20 7:10-7:55am (144327685), {separate webpage}.

 

Iran’s oil platforms, and 50% of its navy:

CIS: 88 H380-4

Serial Set: 13875 SuDoc: Y 1.1/7:100-181

Hon. Jim Wright,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Speaker:  On April 14, 1988, the USS Samuel B. Roberts struck a mine in international waters of the Persian Gulf. Lookouts on the Roberts had spotted three mines lying perpendicular to the ship’s course and about 700 yards away. The Roberts struck a mine set deeper than the others and not visible from the ship. Ten servicemen were injured. The detonation caused a nine-foot hole in the ship’s hull near the main engine room, below the water line; a split in the ship’s bulkhead between the main engine room and an auxiliary machinery room; and a fire. The Roberts is now safely in a repair facility.

An examination of the mines remaining in the water established that they were M-08 mines, the same type Iran was caught placing in the water from the Iran Ajr on September 21, 1987. They had been freshly laid in an area transited by U.S. convoys. No barnacles or marine growth were on the mines. Most important, the mines bore markings of the same type and series as on those laid by the Iran Ajr. No doubt exists that Iran laid these mines for the specific purpose of damaging or sinking U.S. or other non-belligerent ships. We have warned Iran repeatedly against such hostile acts.

In response to this attack on the Roberts and commencing at approximately 1:00 a.m. (EDT), April 18, 1988, Armed Forces of the United States assigned to the Joint Task Force Middle East, after warning Iranian personnel and providing an opportunity to escape, attacked and effectively neutralized the Sassan and Sirri Platforms, which have been used to support unlawful Iranian attacks on non-belligerent shipping. While these events were taking place, an Iranian helicopter and small boats attacked an oil rig and the U.S.-flag vessel Willi Tide in the Mubarak oil field. In response, U.S. A-6 aircraft attacked three Iranian Boghammar small boats, sinking at least one.

Subsequently, U.S. Forces were attacked by the Iranian PTG Joshan, FFG Sahand, and FFG Sabalan. In response to these attacks, U.S. Forces severely damaged or sank the Iranian vessels. Iranian F-4 fighters also approached the USS Simpson and the USS Wainwright in a threatening manner; the Simpson and Wainwright fired at the aircraft, causing their retreat.

Search and rescue efforts were undertaken to locate a missing AH-1 Cobra helicopter from the Wainwright. The helicopter had two men on board. As of 7:00 a.m. (EDT) today, the search and rescue efforts were continuing. {p.2}

These necessary and proportionate actions by U.S. Armed Forces were taken at my specific direction in the exercise of our inherent right of self-defense, recognized in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, and pursuant to my constitutional authority with respect to the conduct of foreign relations and as Commander in Chief. We have completed these self-defense actions and consider the matter closed.

Since March 1987, I and members of my Administration have provided to Congress letters, reports, briefings, and testimony in connection with developments in the Persian Gulf and the activities of U.S. Armed Forces in the region. In accordance with my desire that Congress be kept fully informed on this matter, I am providing this report consistent with the War Powers Resolution. I look forward to cooperating with Congress in pursuit of our mutual, overriding aim of peace and stability in the Persian Gulf region. In this connection, I regard the continued presence of U.S. Armed Forces to be essential to the achievement of that aim. Our Forces remain prepared to take any additional action necessary to protect themselves, U.S.-flag vessels, and U.S. lives.

Sincerely,

O

Ronald Reagan (U.S. President), Report on United States Military Action (April 19 1988) (U.S. Congress 100-2, House Document 100-181, April 19 1988) {SuDoc: Y 1.1/7:100-181, Serial Set: 13875, CIS: 88 H380-4, OCLC: 17897626, GPOcat, paper, microfiche, DL, WorldCat}, copy “Letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate on the United States Military Strike in the Persian Gulf” (April 19 1988), 1988-89 PPPUS 477-478 (book 1) {ucsb, rr}.

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Iran v. United States (“Oil Platforms”) (U.N. I.C.J.: International Court of Justice, The Hague, Judgment on the Merits, November 6 2003) {29.1mb.pdf, source}.

  –CJHjr

 

Settlement: William J. Clinton (U.S. President, Jan. 20 1993-2001 Jan. 19), Developments Concerning the National Emergency with Respect to Iran (White House, May 16 1996) (U.S. Congress 104-2, House Document 104-214, May 16 1988) {12kb.txt, 183kb.pdf} {SuDoc Y 1.1/7:104-214, Serial Set: 14353, CIS: 96 H460-18, OCLC: 34952916, GPOcat, paper, microfiche, DL, WorldCat}; “Message to the Congress Reporting on the National Emergency With Respect to Iran” (White House, May 16 1996), Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton, 1996, pages 756-758 (book 1) {11kb.html/txt, 91kb.pdf} {SuDoc: AE 2.114:996/BK.1, ISSN: 0079-7626, LCCN: 58061050, DL, LFDL, WorldCat}: “The survivors of each victim of the Iran Air shootdown will be paid $300,000 (for wage-earning victims) or $150,000 (for non-wage-earning victims).” “Settlement Agreement” {115.1kb.pdf, source}, signed February 9 1996 (U.N. I.C.J.).

{More to come}