Iran trains Egyptian pilots

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33966, 6 October 1975, Page 15

Iran trains Egyptian pilots

(JV.Z. Press Assn— Copyright)

TEHERAN, (Iran), October 4. Egyptian pilots have received introductory training on Americanmade F 4 Phantom jets from the Iranian Air Force, reliable sources said today. The familiarisation flights underscore a shift by the Shah of Iran from deliberate aloofness from the ArabIsraeli conflict to growing support from his fellow Moslems in the Arab world, they said.

In that context they recalled recent reports that the Shah also is considering turning over some of his United States-made F 5 fight-

ers to Jordan as they are replaced by more advanced Fl4s, due to begin arriving in Iran next year.

American arms

The report also emphasised Egyptian hopes of getting American arms after President Anwar Sadat’s willingness to accept the secondstage Sinai accord sponsored by the United States Secretary of State (Dr Henry Kissinger). President Sadat has said several times that he plans to ask Washington for arms to complement his Sovietsupplied arsenal. His air force, chiefly Soviet MiGs, has had trouble matching the Phantom-based Israeli Air Force.

Diplomatic sources said that Egyptian Air Force officers have been visiting Iran

for the last six months and familiarisation with the Phantoms is believed to have begun during that time. The visits included at least one of the Egyptian Air Force chiefs, Air Vice-Marshal Muhmoud Shaker Abdel Moneim, they added. The number of pilots and the extent of training are closely guarded secrets in Teheran. But diplomatic observers expressed conviction it is a small number and that the training is limited.

Moscow visit

King Hussein of Jordan i has accepted an invitation from Soviet leaders to visit Moscow next summer, it was announced today. Ignoring the objections of Dr Kissinger, the Senate Foreign Relations Commmittee has published all four

secret commitments the United States made to Egypt and Israel as part of the Sinai disengagement accord. The four documents, published despite Dr Kissinger’s last-minute plea, are:— A memorandum of agreement between the Governments of Israel and the United States promising United States military assistance to Israel, offering help in the event Israel runs short of oil and pledging to consult in the event Israel is threatened by the Soviet Union. A separate pledge by the United States not to recognise the Palestine Liberation Organisation (P.L.0.) at any reconvening of the Geneva peace conference, so long as the P.L.O. refuses to recognise Israel.

A promise by the United States to consider supplying Israel with Pershing ground-to-ground missiles with conventional warheads. And an assurance from the United States Government to Egypt promising economic assistance, a “serious effort” to promote disengagement negotiations between Israel and Syria and the use of United States technicians in monitoring the latest EgyptianIsraeli accord.