U.S. Mideast Arms Decision Due in the Fall

The Reagan Administration stressed today that no decision will be made before next fall on requests by Jordan and Saudi Arabia to buy sophisticated American arms. “Both Jordan and Saudi Arabia have informed us of their current defense needs and these remain under review,” State Department deputy spokesman Charles Redman said.

He reiterated that the just completed Administration study on how Middle East arms sales fit into U.S. policy does not recommend any specific sale. He said the study, which is being shown to Congressional committees on a classified basis was not “a decision” paper but “a document which contains the framework on which decisions can then be made.”