What did the declassified documents reveal?

The "1976 Iran Incident" – UFO Encounter over Tehran, Iran. Released on December 3, 2020, this document is part of the NSA's declassified files, archived on The Black Vault website. The document was released through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, with the case number and release date not specified. The declassification authority is not mentioned. NOW YOU SEE IT, NOW YOU DON'TI Captan Henry S. ShielrIs, HQ USAfE/IHOMI, writes: Sometime in his career, each pilot can expect to encounter strange, unusual happenings which will never be adequately or entirely explained by logic or subsequent investigation. The following article recounts just such an episode as reported by two F-4 Phantom crews of the Imperial Iranian Air Force during late 1976. No additional information or explanation of the strange events has been forthcoming; the story will be filed away and probably forgotten, but it makes interesting, and possibly disturbing, reading. Until 0030 on a clear autumn morning, it had been an entirely routine night watch for the Imperial Iranian Air Force's command post in the Tehran area. In quick succession, four calls arrived from one of the city's suburbs, reporting a series of strange airborne objects. These unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) were described as "bird-like" or as brightly-lit helicopters, although none were airborne at the time. Unable to convince the callers that they were only seeing stars, a senior officer went outside to see for himself. Observing an object to the north like a star, only larger and brighter, he immediately scrambled an IIAF F-4 to investigate. The object no longer regarded the aircraft as a threat. The F-4 pilot reported that the brilliant object was easily visible 70 miles away. When approximately 27 NM distant, the interceptor lost all instrumentation and UHF/Intercom communications. Upon breaking off the intercept and turning towards his home base, all systems returned to normal, as if the strange incident had never occurred. A second F-4 was scrambled ten minutes after the first. The new object reported radar-lock on the UFO at 27 NM, 12,000 feet high position, and a rate of 150 knots closure. Upon reaching the 25 NM point, the object began rapidly moving away to maintain a constant separation distance while still visible on the radar scope. While the size of the radar return was similar to that of a KC-135, its brilliant estimation of actual size was impossible. This second object was described as displaying a lay pattern and alternating blue, green, red, and orange. The sequence was so fast that all colors could be seen at once. As the F-4 continued pursuit south of Tehran, a second brightly-lit object, about one-third the size of the moon, detached from the original UFO and headed straight for the F-4 at a high-speed. The pilot attempted to evade an AIM-9 missile, but was prevented by a sudden power loss in his control panel. UHF and intercom communications were simultaneously lost. The pilot…

Why was this case declassified?

This material was released by the National Security Agency (NSA) through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Storyflo narrates it from the public release.

The “1976 Iran Incident” – UFO Encounter Over Tehran, Iran

◆ BLUF — The short version

The "1976 Iran Incident" – UFO Encounter over Tehran, Iran. Released on December 3, 2020, this document is part of the NSA's declassified files, archived on The Black Vault website. The document was released through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, with the case number and release date not specified.

Agency: National Security Agency (NSA)
Date: JUN 21 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)

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What was The “1976 Iran Incident” – UFO Encounter Over Tehran, Iran about?: The "1976 Iran Incident" – UFO Encounter over Tehran, Iran. Released on December 3, 2020, this document is part of the NSA's declassified files, archived on The Black Vault website. The document was released through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, with the case number and release date not specified.
Why was this case declassified?: This material was released by the National Security Agency (NSA) through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process.

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