The Arab League’s earlier hesitation to take sides had resulted, in large part, from
a feud between Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and Syrian leader Hafiz al-Assad. The
two men led competing branches of the Baath Party and long had been at odds, in
this case to the point that Assad openly supported Iran during much of the war.
Brought together by their fellow Arab leaders, however, Hussein and Assad appeared
to resolve enough of their differences to reach agreement on a common approach to
the war—placing blame on Iran for refusing to accept the UN resolution.
The Iran-Iraq War finally came to an end in July 1988, but not because of inter-
national diplomatic pressure. Rather, Iran relented and accepted a peace agreement
after a string of military losses that made the price of continuing the fight too steep,
even for a government that insisted it was doing God’s will (Conclusion of the Iran-
Iraq War, p. 437).
Following are excerpts from the text of UN Security Council Resolution 598 adopted
July 20, 1987, calling for a cease-fire in the Iran-Iraq War, and the final commu-
niqué of the Arab League meeting in Amman, Jordan, issued November 11, 1987.DOCUMENT
UN Security Council
Resolution 598 (1987)
JULY20, 1987The Security Council,
Reaffirmingits resolution 582 (1986),
Deeply concernedthat, despite its calls for a cease-fire, the conflict between the
Islamic Republic of Iran and Iraq continues unabated, with further heavy loss of
human life and material destruction,
Deploringthe initiation and continuation of the conflict,Deploring alsothe bombing of purely civilian population centers, attacks on neu-
tral shipping or civilian aircraft, the violation of international humanitarian law and
other laws of armed conflict, and, in particular, the use of chemical weapons contrary
to obligations under the 1925 Geneva Protocol,
Deeply concernedthat further escalation and widening of the conflict may take place,Determinedto bring to an end all military actions between Iran and Iraq,434 IRAQ AND THE GULF WARS