Saudi Plan for U.S.-Iran Talks in 1985 Alleged

Congressional investigators want to question a businessman who alleges that members of Saudi Arabia’s royal family devised a plan to instigate White House talks with Iran before U.S. arms sales in 1985, sources said Tuesday.

The businessman, Sam Bamieh of San Mateo, Calif., has told United Press International that he was present when King Fahd endorsed using ex-presidential aide Michael K. Deaver as an avenue for urging the opening of U.S.-Iranian communications. Deaver later became a registered Saudi lobbyist.

Bamieh, who describes himself as a close friend of Fahd and Saudi arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi, also said Khashoggi acted as a Fahd emissary in serving as the middleman who set up and helped to execute several U.S. weapons sales to Iran.

He said Prince Bandar ibn Sultan, Saudi ambassador to the United States, had developed ties to Pentagon and former National Security Council officials and was a key in pushing the plan.

Habib Shaheen, chief spokesman for the Saudi Embassy in Washington, said there is “no substance” to Bamieh’s allegations.