Historical Organization
United States Department of State
United States Department of State
Details
Organization Timeline
Washington restates wartime arms restrictions
đź“… 16 February 1981A U.S. cable restated restrictions on military exports and transfers to Iran and Iraq. For Iran, access to parts for its U.S.-origin arsenal remained a central wartime problem.
U.S. and Iraqi officials discuss closer relations
📅 28 May 1981William Eagleton and Tariq Aziz discussed improving U.S.–Iraqi relations and trade. The rapprochement developed while Iran was still fighting to recover occupied territory.
U.S. circulates guidance on Iraq terrorism delisting
📅 27 February 1982A State Department cable circulated press guidance on removing Iraq from the terrorism list. The change eased constraints on relations with Iran’s wartime adversary.
Shultz meets Tariq Aziz
📅 10 May 1983George Shultz met Tariq Aziz to discuss the war and bilateral relations. The meeting formed part of a growing U.S.–Iraqi dialogue as Iran sought to sustain pressure on Iraq.
Cable reports rejected helicopter militarization request
đź“… 8 June 1983A Baghdad cable reported that Iraq had asked a foreign government to add missile launchers to Hughes helicopters. The request was reportedly rejected; the cable does not establish a completed...
U.S. officials review a possible tilt toward Iraq
đź“… 7 October 1983An internal U.S. memorandum examined financial, diplomatic and military options to favor Iraq. It treated a possible Iranian victory and disruption of Gulf oil exports as threats to U.S. interests.
IRNA chemical warfare accusations reach U.S. monitors
📅 22 October 1983A U.S. monitoring report recorded Iranian news agency accusations of Iraqi chemical attacks. The document preserves Iran’s public allegation rather than an independent investigation finding.
U.S. memorandum addresses Iraqi chemical weapons use
📅 1 November 1983Jonathan Howe’s memorandum to the Secretary of State addressed Iraqi chemical weapons use and urged an early approach to Baghdad. It shows U.S. concern before the March 1984 public condemnation.
U.S. officials recommend a chemical weapons demarche
📅 21 November 1983An action memorandum recommended asking Iraq to halt chemical warfare. It recorded additional confirmation of Iraqi use and concern over foreign firms’ contribution to production.
Reagan approves Gulf shipping and oil defense policy
📅 26 November 1983NSDD 114 directed allied consultations and readiness to protect Gulf oil facilities and keep Hormuz open. The directive’s priorities placed Iran’s maritime conflict within wider U.S. strategic...
Rumsfeld meets Saddam Hussein in Baghdad
đź“… 20 December 1983Donald Rumsfeld told Saddam Hussein that Washington and Baghdad shared interests in preventing Iranian and Syrian expansion. He described U.S. efforts to restrict arms transfers to Iran.
State Department recommends financing for Iraq
📅 22 December 1983A State Department memorandum recommended Export-Import Bank financing for Iraq. It argued that credit could support Iraq’s economy and demonstrate U.S. support during the war.
U.S. cable outlines follow-up on arms transfers to Iran
📅 14 January 1984A cable to Rumsfeld’s party outlined follow-up steps on the Iran–Iraq war, including efforts to curtail arms supplies to Iran. These efforts affected Tehran’s search for wartime military equipment.
Officials propose easing export restrictions for Iraq
đź“… 30 January 1984A U.S. memorandum sought decisions on dual-use truck exports and other restrictions for Iraq. It acknowledged that easing controls could reinforce perceptions of a U.S. tilt against Iran.
Cable reports a chemical shipment held for scrutiny
đź“… 4 March 1984A U.S. cable reported that a shipment of 22,000 pounds of a chemical bound for Iraq had been held. Officials sought assurances about its claimed pesticide use because of possible weapons applications.
U.S. officials circulate draft chemical warfare condemnation
đź“… 4 March 1984Officials circulated a draft press statement for 5 March condemning Iraqi chemical weapons use. This record dates the preparation of the statement, rather than its later public delivery.
U.S. instructions seek no decision on Iranian draft
📅 14 March 1984U.S. instructions sought a no-decision motion on Iran’s chemical weapons draft at the UN Human Rights Commission, with abstention as a fallback. The venue was the Commission, not a Security Council...
Rumsfeld requests an arms restriction briefing
📅 24 March 1984Before further Baghdad talks, Rumsfeld requested a list of countries approached about arms transfers to Iran and the status of each approach. The cable documents Washington’s campaign to constrain...
U.S. mission reports debate over chemical weapons findings
📅 28 March 1984A U.S. UN mission cable described British and Dutch efforts toward a Security Council response to chemical warfare and Iraq’s request for restraint. The discussion followed the UN experts’ report.
Iraqi envoy seeks a chemical weapons statement without naming Iraq
đź“… 29 March 1984Nizar Hamdoon told James Placke that Iraq preferred a Security Council presidential statement without naming a responsible state. Placke said Washington could accept a statement if Council consensus...
U.S. announces chemical export controls for both belligerents
đź“… 30 March 1984A State Department briefing announced licensing controls for five chemical compounds exported to Iran and Iraq. Applying the restrictions to both sides did not itself establish Iranian chemical...
Reagan orders planning to avert Iraqi collapse
📅 5 April 1984NSDD 139 directed a plan to avert Iraqi collapse and strengthened U.S. Gulf readiness. For Iran, the policy showed Washington’s determination to prevent a decisive Iranian victory.
Baghdad cable reports possible Bell helicopter sale
📅 12 April 1984A U.S. cable reported negotiations for 20–25 Bell helicopters for Iraq’s Defense Ministry. It stipulated that helicopters could not be configured for military use; negotiations are not proof of...
U.S. background paper examines chemical suppliers
📅 16 November 1984A U.S. paper stated that Western firms had helped develop Iraq’s chemical capability, sometimes knowingly. Its internal assessment reinforced concerns about the foreign supply chain behind attacks...
U.S. and Iraq restore diplomatic relations
📅 26 November 1984Shultz welcomed restored U.S.–Iraqi diplomatic relations in talks with Aziz. He also reiterated opposition to chemical warfare, illustrating that condemnation did not end Washington’s rapprochement...