Libya and Iraq restore diplomatic ties

Iranian envoy Mohammad Javad Larijani met Pérez de Cuéllar in New York. Iran emphasized recognition of Iraq’s responsibility as negotiations over Resolution 598 continued.

Mousavi said relations with Saudi Arabia were seriously damaged after Mecca. He stopped short of announcing a diplomatic break and rejected pressure on Iran’s war policy.

Britain, France, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands sent minesweepers to the Gulf after shipping was damaged by mines. Their deployment marked a broader international naval presence alongside U.S....

An attack attributed to Iranian Revolutionary Guards struck the Italian freighter Jolly Rubino. The incident became a trigger for Italy’s decision to protect merchant shipping militarily.

A State Department spokesman questioned whether the Soviet Union could act as an impartial mediator between Iran and Iraq, exposing disagreement over diplomatic roles.

The UN Secretary-General arrived in Tehran seeking implementation of a ceasefire. His visit brought negotiations directly to Iran’s leadership before continuing to Iraq.

Italy’s lower house gave final approval for naval ships to protect Italian merchant traffic. The vote formalized intervention after the attack on Jolly Rubino.

Gulf Cooperation Council states denounced Iran and backed Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Their statement reflected the sharpened regional polarization around the war and Mecca crisis.

Italy’s eighteenth naval group departed from Taranto and Augusta for Gulf operations. The mission added escort and mine-clearance forces to the international maritime presence.

At the General Assembly, Reagan urged Iran to state clearly whether it accepted Resolution 598 and warned that rejection should trigger enforcement measures.