Mehdi Samii and the 1964–1968 Iran-US Arms Negotiations

In the early 1970s, Iran embarked on what has been characterized as "one of the largest military buildups in modern history," with support from the United States. 1 Indeed, in 1972, US President Richard Nixon made the unprecedented decision to suspend all restrictions on arms sales to Iran.Rather than viewing Iran as a client in need of tutelage, he saw it as a key strategic partner and a foremost demonstration of his foreign policy doctrine.2 This relationship marked a significant transformation in US policy from the administrations of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, which been hesitant to support the Shah's military ambitions, due to concerns that excessive arms sales would hinder Iran's economic and political development.3 This article argues that Mehdi Samii, governor of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) and Iran's lead arms negotiator during the mid-to late 1960s, had a significant role in this transformation.Samii's reputation in Washington as a US-aligned financial leader, his efforts to expand commercial ties to the Eastern Bloc, and his relationship with the Shah positioned him to resolve tensions with the United States and secure full support for Iran's economic priorities and military ambitions.More broadly, by emphasizing Samii's role, this article examines how US policy could be influenced by international technocratic actors.By leveraging their domestic political position, personal credibility, and economic diplomacy, such actors could influence the decision-making process in Washington.In this sense, the article contributes to a pericentric understanding of the global Cold War, demonstrating a means by which the United States could be compelled to accommodate the strategic objectives of its smaller partners.Over the past two decades, considerable scholarly attention has been given to Iran-US relations during the 1960s.Scholars generally agree that Nixon's Iran policies � I am grateful to the anonymous reviewers and editors of Diplomatic History for their thoughtful feedback during the revision process, and to colleagues and friends for their valuable insights.