Second-channel negotiations open in Frankfurt

A contact described in the Walsh report as Rafsanjani’s nephew began meetings in Washington. The 19–20 September talks developed another sequence of arms deliveries and hostage releases.

Shultz and Shevardnadze discussed efforts to stop the war without victors or vanquished. Soviet diplomacy with both sides had produced no settlement, according to the record.

The operation around al-Faw and Majnoon concluded without a decisive breakthrough. Iran held its major al-Faw gain, but the wider conflict remained an exhausting contest over exposed positions and...

In Bahrain, Iran’s oil minister backed a $19-per-barrel target by year’s end. Iran sought stronger prices as reduced market income intensified pressure on the wartime budget.

Gasoline rationing took effect with monthly limits of 60 liters for large vehicles and 40 for smaller ones. The oil minister described the measure as temporary protection for strategic fuel stocks.

Resolution 588 urged Iran and Iraq to implement Resolution 582 without delay and asked the Secretary-General to intensify his efforts. The Council continued seeking a settlement while combat...

Turkish officials said normal Iraqi oil flows continued despite Iran’s claims about strikes at Kirkuk. Competing accounts showed the strategic importance of export infrastructure.

Five hundred U.S.-made TOW missiles held in Israel were delivered to Iran through the second channel. Public exposure of the secret initiative followed within days.

The Lebanese publication Al-Shiraa reported McFarlane’s secret visit to Tehran. The disclosure brought Iran’s covert U.S. arms contacts into public view and destabilized the initiative.

Reagan publicly acknowledged sending weapons to Iran but denied trading arms for hostages. His televised address sought to defend the initiative after its exposure.