When,inanattempt toresolve certain hsuesrelated totheconflict, internatiom.\1. e.fforts werebegunwithaview to)m1tigating thewar'soverall effect, Iraqco-operated inallsincerity withthoseefforts inthehopethatpeace couldbeestablished stepbystep.Thereality ofthesitllation, however, has shownbeyond anydoubtthattheIranian regime's response tothoseefforts hasbeen . opportunistic andtimeserving, verymuchinlinewithitsplanstoprolong thewar andtoachieveitsneurotic, sickdreamstodomi.nate Iraqandothercountries in theregion. Weareallwellawareoftheunfounded claimsthatthebarbaric Iranian regil~ hasbeenmakinginitscampaign ofcrocodile tearswit:hregardtocertain issues related toitsownaggression andcaused byitsowninsistence uponprolonging it. Onthequestion ofshelling populated civilian areas, Ineednotgointoa detailed account ofthealready documented andestablished factsabouthow,on 4september 1980,theIranl\an regimebeganshelling Iraqicities andcivilian centres andabouthowithascontinued todosoeversincethatdatewhenever its aircraft foundanopportunity topenetrate Iraqiairspace. Theimportant factinthisissueisthaton27June1983President saddamHussein oftheIraqiRepublic proposed thataspecial agr('!':i~\'lnt be""igned between thetwocountries, undertheauspices oftheUnitedNations, whichWOllld protect civilian targets fromfurther attacks. ButIranrejected thatproposal, andthatrejection wasnotedinaspecial paragraph ofSecurity Council resolution 540(1983)adopted in1983andalsorejected byIran. OnlyafterIraqhadfoiledandcompletely destroyed Iran'smajoroffensive againstitssouthernsectorinFebruary 1984didtheIranian regimebegintoshow anyinterest inthismatter andtocallupontheinternational Organizat.!.C)n todo son.ethingaboutit. IBM/17 A/40/PV.13 72 (!r.Aziz,trag) Thesecretary-Generalis subsequent initiative brought aboutthe12June1984 agreement, according towhich e~chsideundertook torefrain fromdeliberate attacks onpurelycivilian centres. Thatobligation, however, didnotdeterthe Iranian regimefrombypassing theagreement.by turningitsborder townsand villages intoareasofmilitary concentrations. Wewarnedagainst thisinmy letterof27June1984(documant S/16649). InthatletterIdemanded thata sufficient numberofobservers bedispatched totheareatosupervise implementation oftheagreement. TheIranian regimerejected theideafromthe outsetbutultimately agreedtoallowtheteamofobservers tostayinTehran without giVing themtherighttomakeinspection visitstotheareascovered bythe agreement inordertoverifyitsimplementation. Afterthiswebegantoreceive falseIranian claimsofIraqiviolations ofthe agreement, andIran'sPresident wentsofarastoissueastatement on 8Febr.uary 1985inwhichhethreatened toshellthecityofBasrahandwarnedits inhabitantstoleavetown(document S/16948). Thesamewarning wasrepeatedon 4.March1985,giVingthepeopleofBasrahonly12hours ~..oevacuate t:lecity. Ostensibly inresponse toaraidcarried outbyIraqiplanesonafactory in thesuburbs ofAhwaz~anarellnotcovered bytheagreement, afurther violation of theagreement occurre,3 atthesametimeaswewerenegotiating thematterof prisoners ofwarhereinNewYorkintheSecurity Council inthehopeoffinding a solution totheirtragic p~edicament~ TheIranian threatwasinfactcarried out, ~ndBasrah wassubjected tosevere shelling. Yetallthiswasonlyaprelude towhatwastobeIran'Slargest and fiercest offensive against thesouthern sectorofIraq.Thatoffensive, which beganon12Ml1rch1985,wasaimedatoccupying southern Iraqandinstalling a puppetregimethere. "thecHensive wascardedoutdespiteanappealissuedbytheI A/40/PV.13 73 ,Mr.Aziz,Iraq) secretary-General only thre~daysbeforeinwhichhehadaskedbothparties to refrain fromshelling cities. Ourpositive response totheSecretary-General's appeal wasimmediate. Weexplt'(!ssed Iraq's complete teadiness toparticipate inthe negotiatiollS condu~ted underhisauspices withaviewtodrawing upeffective measures w4e~eby the12Juneagreement wouldnolongerbeopentoexploitation for . aggressive, militarietic purposes. Doesthisleav'a"nydoubtastoIran'srealintentions inaccepting thesaid agreement? TheIranian regime's acceptance ofitwasadi"ersio.,ary tactic andan attempt. toneutralize Iraqistrikes against Iranian military concentrations. Part ofthediversion alsoconsisted inIran'sdeliberate violation oftheagreement in anattempt tolaunchitsoffensive inanatmosphere ofchaos. Letusbriefly consider theissuaoftheraidsonships. In1983Iraqcalled
**Analysis**
This text appears to be a diplomatic statement or a report on a conflict between Iraq and Iran. It discusses the conflict's history, including the shelling of civilian areas, the proposal of a ceasefire agreement, and the subsequent violations of that agreement. The text also mentions the exchange of prisoners of war and the humanitarian situation in the region. Given the context and content, it seems that the text is related to international relations, diplomacy, and conflict resolution.

**Category**
International trade, Humanitarian aid and relief