CIA Discovers Second Officer Engaged in the 'Argo' Operation

The CIA has revealed the identity of a second officer involved in a 1980 rescue mission in Iran, which served as the basis for the film Argo. The operation, known as the "Canadian caper," saw the CIA successfully smuggle six US diplomats out of Iran by disguising them as a film crew. With the assistance of Canada, two CIA officers and the diplomats boarded a flight to Zurich without attracting the attention of Iran's security services. The CIA has now named the second officer as Ed Johnson, an expert in covert extractions. Johnson was a linguist and specialized in creating false documents. In an oral history shared with CIA historians, he described the challenge of convincing the diplomats to pose as members of a film crew and the need for quick preparation. Although he spoke German and had experience in the Middle East, he did not speak Farsi. However, a German-speaking Iranian guard at the Swedish embassy unknowingly helped Johnson and his companion reach the Canadian embassy, where the diplomats were hiding. Johnson expressed gratitude to the Iranians for guiding them to the right place. Contrary to the tense depiction in the film, Johnson recalled that the diplomats remained relaxed and confident throughout the final stages of the operation. While Tony Mendez, a disguise and forgery specialist, had previously been identified, Johnson had kept his identity and role secret until now. Due to health issues, he was unable to provide another interview for the CIA podcast. The revelation of Johnson's name sheds light on a successful CIA mission and provides recognition for the heroes involved.