Iran launches Operation Ramadan across the border into Iraq

In a broadcast interview, Ariel Sharon defended Israeli arms sales to Iran and rejected U.S. criticism. His remarks made the wartime supply relationship a matter of public ministerial debate.

Iraq’s Arab allies urged Iran to consider an apparent reparations offer. Iran continued to demand withdrawal, compensation and an investigation into the war’s origins.

Iran said acceptance of an Iraqi ceasefire offer depended on permission for its forces to cross Iraq toward Lebanon. The condition connected Gulf diplomacy with the Lebanon crisis.

After Iran’s successes, Saddam Hussein announced the withdrawal of Iraqi forces from Iranian territory and offered negotiations. Iran’s leaders argued that a ceasefire without accountability,...

The Council called for a ceasefire, withdrawal to internationally recognized boundaries, and negotiations. Iran viewed the timing through its recent battlefield gains and continued to demand...

After weeks of fighting, Iranian forces did not penetrate Iraqi defenses around Basra. The operation revealed the high cost of advancing into prepared Iraqi positions and the difficulty Iran faced...

Iraq accepted moving the planned Non-Aligned summit away from Baghdad as war and Iranian objections undermined its proposed role as host.

Iran opened a new offensive on the central front. The assault sought to pressure Iraqi positions after Iran’s decision to carry the war across the border; it also reflected disagreement within Iran...

Resolution 522 renewed calls for a ceasefire and withdrawal to internationally recognized boundaries. For Iran, these demands arose after its recovery of occupied territory and the expansion of combat...

The offensive near Mandali failed to achieve a breakthrough. Iran’s continued attacks inside Iraq raised the human and material costs of the war and did not trigger the expected popular uprising...