Tehran UFO — Iranian F-4 Weapons System Failure

The Tehran incident is one of the most well-documented military UAP encounters in the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency records. On September 19, 1976, Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF) F-4 Phantom interceptors were scrambled twice after civilian reports of a bright light over Tehran. The first F-4 experienced total instrument and communications failure as it approached; the pilot turned away and systems restored. A second F-4, crewed by General Parviz Jafari (then a lieutenant), closed to within firing range and attempted to launch an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile. At that moment, weapons control systems failed completely. The object then separated a smaller, brighter sub-object that moved rapidly toward the F-4; the crew initiated evasive maneuvers. A second small object separated from the main body and descended toward the ground. The DIA document describing this event — declassified and available in the NARA archive — includes a handwritten comment 'an outstanding report' and rates it 'Reliability of Source: Confirmed Reliable.' The report notes the case 'could be of significant intelligence interest' due to the weapons and systems interference. General Jafari testified about this encounter at a 2007 National Press Club event. The 2026 archive release includes previously withheld NSA signals collection from the intercept period.