Air Crash Victim Identified as Key Figure in Iran Affair

An Israeli who was linked to the Iran-Contra affair and who briefed Vice President George Bush on arms deals with Iran apparently died in a plane crash, officials said Thursday.

The man was tentatively identified by a passport found on his body as Amiram Nir Nisker, a former adviser on counterterrorism to two Israeli prime ministers, a statement from the Michoacan state attorney general’s office said.

Newsmen in Israel said Thursday that his name was Nisker before he changed it to Nir. They gave his age as 38. Nir had been a journalist and military commentator before turning to politics in 1984.

Engine Failure Cited

The pilot of the Cessna T210 also was killed in the crash Wednesday in western Michoacan state and two people were injured, the Mexican statement said. It said engine failure may have been the cause.

Nir was an important liaison in secret arms deals involving the sale of U.S. weapons to Iran, according to testimony heard by U.S. congressional investigators. Nir’s activities included trips to Tehran and Western Europe.

The state attorney general’s statement said Nir’s passport was issued in Tel Aviv and contained a Mexican visa issued by the Mexican Embassy in London on Nov. 25.

It said the passenger carrying the passport had registered as Pat Weber for the flight, prompting authorities to pursue their investigations for a positive identification.

Nir was a close associate of Shimon Peres, the foreign minister of Israel. He rose to prominence with an appointment as Peres’ adviser on counterterrorism when Peres was prime minister in 1985.

Nir remained at his post after Yitzhak Shamir succeeded Peres as prime minister in October, 1986. He resigned earlier this year. Israeli officials and sources said he was in Mexico on a business trip, but would not disclose its nature.

Peres assigned Nir in December, 1985, to serve as liaison with former White House aide Oliver L. North. In that capacity, Nir met with North in Israel, Europe and the United States, discussing U.S. arms sales to Iran through Israel and the diversion of profits to the Contras.

In 1986, Nir briefed Bush in Israel about the transactions with Iran. Bush has said he does not remember much about the briefing, but his aide Craig Fuller took notes.