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Message to the Congress Concerning the Continuation of the Iran Emergency

November 12, 1981

To the Congress of the United States:

Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination on the anniversary date of a declaration of emergency, unless prior to the anniversary date the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to Congress a notice that the emergency authority is to continue in effect beyond such anniversary date. On November 12, 1980 President Carter caused to be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress a notice that the emergency declared on November 14, 1979 with respect to Iran was to continue in effect beyond the November 14, 1980 anniversary date. I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the attached notice stating that the Iran emergency is to continue in effect beyond the November 14, 1981 anniversary date.

Although the crisis which existed in the fall of 1979 and throughout 1980 between the United States and Iran has substantially abated, the internal situation in Iran remains uncertain. The war between Iran and Iraq continues and the Soviet Union still occupies Afghanistan. In January 1981, Iran and the United States entered into agreements for release of the hostages and the settlement of opposing claims. An international arbitral tribunal has been established for the adjudication of claims of U.S. nationals against Iran and by Iranian nationals against the United States; but it must decide four disputes between the United States and Iran over the proper interpretation of the agreements before it can address private party claims. It appears that full normalization of commercial and diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Iran will require more time. In these circumstances, I have determined that it is necessary to maintain in force the broad authorities that may be needed to respond to the process of implementation of the January 1981 agreements with Iran and the eventual normalization of relations.

I will see that the Congress is kept informed of significant developments.

RONALD REAGAN

The White House,

November 12, 1981.

Ronald Reagan, Message to the Congress Concerning the Continuation of the Iran Emergency Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/246977

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