Tehran 1976 — Imperial Iranian Air Force F-4 Intercept

On September 19, 1976, multiple civilian phone calls about a bright object over Tehran prompted the Imperial Iranian Air Force to scramble a F-4 Phantom from Shahrokhi Air Force Base. The first F-4 experienced instrument and communication failures as it approached and turned back. A second F-4 (piloted by Lt. Parviz Jafari) successfully approached the object, which was described as brightly lit with rapidly strobing colors. When Jafari attempted to fire an AIM-9 missile, his weapons control panel went dark and communications failed. A second smaller object separated from the main craft and accelerated directly toward Jafari's aircraft; he dove to evade it. A third smaller object separated from the main craft and descended toward the ground below. A fourth object separated and rejoined the primary craft. The aircraft's weapons and communications were restored when it moved away from the primary object. Tehran civilian ATC observed the event on radar throughout. The crew filed formal reports. The US Defense Intelligence Agency prepared an official evaluation report (IIR 6 846 0979 76) that rated the case as 'outstanding' in credibility and information content, stating it had all the 'interest of an incident from the early days of the UFO era.' The State Department also prepared a report. Both DIA and State Department documents were declassified and released via FOIA, and are preserved at NARA.