U.S. briefing records stalled Saudi security talks

IEA ministers agreed on stock use, conservation and measures against destabilizing purchases. They set a collective demand-reduction objective but did not adopt country-specific import ceilings.

Carter’s letter to Fahd urged continued Saudi cooperation on output and pricing. It linked producer-consumer coordination to limiting economic damage while the war disrupted Iranian and Iraqi exports.

Resolution 35/144 C requested an impartial investigation of alleged chemical-weapons use with medical and technical experts, including on-site evidence collection with the countries’ consent.

Brzezinski questioned whether U.S. policy toward the war should remain tied to the hostage crisis. The coordination committee ordered a further options meeting to support Muskie’s UN diplomacy.

OPEC’s Bali conference ended with revised official price limits despite tensions between Iran and Iraq. Diplomatic reporting said the war featured prominently without stopping the conference’s basic...

The UN announced that Iran and Iraq had agreed to a second visit by Palme, planned for 13–19 January. Agreement to receive him remained distinct from agreement on peace.

After the January 5 launch, the Iranian armored offensive was encircled and suffered heavy losses. The failure sharpened debate over military command and helped reveal the limits of early...

Washington instructed Gulf embassies to challenge oil-price increases. Its cable argued that higher prices aggravated the war’s disruption and harmed both industrial and developing economies.

Presidential Directive 63 codified U.S. Gulf security policy, including force projection, regional access and allied cooperation. The Iran-Iraq war formed part of its stated strategic setting.

A law ratified by the Majlis incorporated the National Basij into the Revolutionary Guards and transferred its administration, command and resources. The change structured Iran’s wartime volunteer...