Weinberger Says President Got Bad Advice on Dealings in Iran

President Reagan got bad advice from people who told him that there was someone in Iran to deal with other than those who run the country, Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger said Wednesday.

He was asked by French radio and television reporters whether the United States had strained its credibility by selling arms to Iran while urging its allies not to deal with that country. Weinberger replied:

“I think it depends on, of course, the allies’ understanding of the President’s motives. . . . The credibility of the U.S. policy depends upon the understanding of our allies of the President’s motives, and of the benefits that might have been achieved had there been, as I say, a different kind of government” in Iran.

‘Fanatical Lunatics’

“What he was trying to do was to open an agreement and an arrangement with people whom he had been advised were of a far different character than the people he was quite properly denouncing as being fanatical lunatics in Iran. I think unfortunately, some of that advice has not turned out to have been accurate or correct.”

With investigations into the Iran affair now in progress, Weinberger said: “We will find out whether or not the President was not only being given bad advice, but was being deceived along with the American people.

“If that is the case, proper punishment will take place.”

Later Wednesday, Weinberger extended a private meeting with French President Francois Mitterrand to reassure him about U.S. goals in arms control talks.

After spending 45 minutes with Mitterrand instead of the 20 minutes scheduled, the defense secretary flew to Brussels for a meeting of NATO defense ministers.