A Chronology of U.S.-Middle East Relations

July 9:

In testimony before the congressional committee investigating the Iran-contra affair, Colonel Oliver North stated that Manucher Ghorbanifar's contacts with Amiram Nir, senior aide to Israeli Prime Minister Shamir, led him to believe that Ghorbanifar was an Israeli intelligence agent. North also noted that CIA Director Casey believed Ghorbanifar, who had been described in CIA reports as a "talented fabricator," had worked and was still working for Mossad.

July 13:

For the first time in 20 years, Soviet officials visited Israel. Although they said their visit was limited to consular matters, shortly after their arrival the leader of the Soviet delegation expressed support for an international Middle East peace conference.

July 18:

Three businessmen were indicted by a California court on charges of illegally selling Pakistan nearly $1 million of sophisticated equipment which could be used to build nuclear weapons. Although the Pakistani government denied any involvement with the businessmen, Sen. Claiborne Pell, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, subsequently led a congressional drive to cut US aid to Pakistan for its alleged attempts to build nuclear weapons.

July 20:

With strong US support, the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed a resolution ordering a cease-fire in the Iran-Iraq war. Although no provision for enforcement was included, the resolution was designed as a preliminary measure to a proposed second Security Council resolution to impose a worldwide arms embargo against whichever party does not cease hostilities.

July 24:

The reflagged Kuwaiti tanker Bridgeton, one of the first two vessels to be escorted by American warships in the Persian Gulf, was seriously damaged when it struck a mine on the way to Kuwait. After completing its journey, the Bridgeton began loading a limited cargo of oil prior to leaving fro repairs outside the war zone.

July 28:

After meeting with Secretary of State George Shultz, Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz warned that unless Iran accepted a comprehensive cease-fire, Iraq would resume attacks on Persian Gulf shipping. This warning came in the wake of appeals from the Reagan administration to European allies and Persian Gulf states to help the US clear mines in the Gulf.

July 30:

Deputy Israeli Defense Minister Michael Dekel proposed that Israel resolve the Palestinian issue by "transferring" West Bank Palestinians "to their country—the Hasmemite Kingdom of Jordan." The proposal prompted furor within Israeli government circles and widespread controversy in the Israeli media.

July 31:

Israel successfully test-fired a ballistic missile with a range of over 500 miles, giving rise to concerns that Israel was trying to alter the Middle East strategic balance by acquiring long-range nuclear-capable missiles with which to threaten Arab cities as far away as Baghdad. The test-launch coincided with congressional testimony by Richard Murphy, assistant secretary of state for Near East and South Asian Affairs, who said "Israel has grown militarily stronger in the region...and that Israel's margin of superiority continues to grow."

July 31:

The US and Jordan concluded a week of joint military maneuvers. The exercises were the largest ever undertaken jointly by the US and Jordan and indicated that military ties between the two countries remain strong.

August 1:

Over 400 people were killed and 650 injured when fierce clashes erupted between Saudi police and Iranian pilgrims demonstrating in the Muslim holy city of Mecca. Saudi police said that riots began when the demonstrators attacked policemen and that of the dead, 275 were Iranian demonstrators, 85 were Saudis, and 42 were pilgrims of other nationalities trampled in the melee. In Tehran one day after the riots, mobs ransacked the Saudi and Kuwaiti embassies, fatally injuring one diplomat, Mosail Al-Ghamdi, 31. Iranian leaders publicly threatened lives of members of Saudi Arabia's ruling family.

August 6:

The Jerusalem Post reported that Jordan and the Soviet Union have just concluded an agreement to allow Amman to purchase technologically advanced MIG-29 fighter aircraft, a move that could affect the Arab-Israeli balance of power.

August 9:

The Washington Post reported that after it became apparent that the American hostages were not going to be released following the sale of arms to Iran in September 1985, a secret US-Israeli operation was planned to locate and free the hostages held in Beirut. This move "laid the groundwork for future covert Israeli-American projects against terrorism."

August 10:

Palestinian newspaper editor Hanna Siniora, who proposed in June to run for a seat on the Jerusalem municipal council, said he would retract his candidacy if it signaled acceptance of Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem. Siniora conceded that his proposal had angered both Israelis and Palestinians, and that his cars had been fire-bombed by militant Palestinian nationalists.

August 11:

An oil tanker carrying Iranian oil under the Norwegian flag struck a mine in the Gulf of Oman in the region's first reported mining outside the waters of the Persian Gulf.

August 11:

After initially refusing to send minesweepers to the Persian Gulf for fear the move would escalate tensions, Britain decided to send four minesweepers to the Gulf. In a similar move, France also announced its intention to send minesweepers into the region to help protect French interests.

August 12:

On the eve of an Israeli cabinet vote to decide the fate of the Lavi jet fighter program, the State Department restated its strong opposition to continuation of the program, noting that US aid would not be able to cover the escalating projected costs of the program. The Israeli Cabinet postponed making a decision on the Lavi, as neither Shamir nor Peres, competing for domestic electoral advantage, seemed willing to vote to discontinue the program which currently produces employment for more than 20,000 Israelis.

August 16:

The Reagan administration announced it was planning a $1 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia. Arguing that Saudi Arabia's ability to defend Persian Gulf oil supplies must be strengthened, the proposed arms sale included 1,600 Maverick anti-tank missiles, whose sale was withdrawn in June because of congressional opposition, and roughly a dozen F-15s. The latter would replace Saudi planes that crash and would not increase the kingdom's total inventory of F-15s.

August 18:

After two months in captivity, American journalist Charles Glass escaped from the southern suburbs of Beirut and was escorted by Syrian soldiers to Damascus, where he was turned over to the US Embassy.