Reading Room Document

Presidential Powers Relating to the Situation in Iran

This document is a memorandum addressing possible responses to the situation in Iran following the seizure of the United States embassy in Tehran. The conclusions reached in the document are that the President has the authority to block Iranian assets, prohibit or curtail the export of goods, restrict the movement of Iranian diplomatic personnel, and send troops to aid American citizens abroad. The document also presents questions for review, such as the definition of a national emergency, the President's power to regulate foreign assets, and the limitations of the War Powers Resolution. The memorandum provides legal analysis and interpretations of various laws and treaties related to presidential powers in the context of the Iran situation.

November 7, 1979