Dr. Ludwig de Braeckeleer

Israel fears Iran-Iraq Ceasefire

Part 22 - JULY 24 1988 ''Any additional surprise is likely to be one surprise too many.'' Yossi Sarid of the liberal Israeli Citizens' Rights Party. The largest Iranian armed opposition group, the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (PMOI, MEK) [1], is based in Iraq since 1986. The leftist Islamic group is widely considered as traitors by Iranians.

Khomeini reluctantly renounces war

Part 21 - JULY 23 1988 "I repeat that the acceptance of this issue is more lethal for me than poison; but I surrender to God's satisfaction. I have drunk this for the sake of God's satisfaction." - Ayatollah Khomeini Khomeini repeated how painful it had been for him to accept Resolution 598, but provided no information as to what had prompted him to do so. The Supreme leader, however made it very clear that the decision had been made by Iranian officials without any foreign interference.

Iran and Iraq Reps to Meet With UN Secretary General

Part 20, Friday, July 22, 1988 "The downing of an Iranian passenger plane by an American warship on July 3 was a turning point." --Hojatolislam Hashemi Rafsanjani, speaker of the Iranian parliament and acting commander of the armed forces

Mild resolution adopted over the USS Vincennes incident

Part 19 - JULY 21 1988 'The Resolution adopted today puts the unfortunate events of July 3 in proper perspective.' Vernon A. Walters, United States Representative at the UN Today, the UN Security Council adopted a mild resolution regarding the downing of an Iranian airliner by the USS Vincennes, causing the instant death of 290 people including 66 children.

Tarip Aziz: The war must go on

Part 18 - JULY 20 1988 ''The decision was like drinking poison.'' -- Ayatollah Khomeini Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini accepted a truce with Iraq. NB. In late 2006, Iranians were stunned to learn that the head of the Revolutionary guards, not Khomeini, had in fact made the decision to end the war.

Iran accepts UN resolution

Part 17 - JULY 19 1988 'Iran should now attract those countries who could become friends instead of alienating them, as it had done in the past.' Iranian military chief Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani Security Council Resolution 598, which Iran said today it had accepted, was adopted on July 20, 1987, as part of diplomatic efforts to end the war between Iran and Iraq. The text of the resolution is attached below.

Saddam offers peace deal to Tehran

Part 16 - JULY 18 1988 Today, in order to mark the 20th anniversary of the Baath Party's rule, Saddam Hussein delivered a speech in which he proposed a Peace Treaty to Tehran. The Iraqi president said that Iraq had inflicted ''material and moral ruin on the Government of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.''

The Lindauer Affidavit

Part 15 - JULY 17 1988 'Susan, if the United States government would let me, I could identify the men behind this attack [Pan Am 1003] today. I could do it right now. You want a police line up? I could go into any crowded restaurant of 200 people, and pick out these men. […]And you know what, Susan? You won't find this restaurant anywhere in Libya. No, you will only find this restaurant in Damascus.' Dr. Richard Fuisz to Suzan Lindauer, September 1994

Moscow asks US to pull out from Gulf

Part 14 - JULY 16 1988 ''The tragedy has demonstrated once again that the U.S. Navy fleet must leave the Persian Gulf waters without delay.'' Valentin V. Lozinsky, Soviet Delegate at the United Nations Today, Valentin V. Lozinsky, the UN Soviet delegate, called for the withdrawal of American naval forces from the Persian Gulf. But Lozinsky also urged Iran to end the war with Iraq and to accept the UN Resolution.

American diplomat congratulates USS Vincennes Captain

Part 13 - JULY 15 1988 ''Given the circumstances, timeframe, and information at hand, you took the only action possible to safeguard your ship and your people.' Charles H. Price II, American Ambassador to Great Britain, Letter to USS Vincennes Captain Will C. Rogers III.

Tehran denounces the downing as criminal act

Part 12, JULY 14 1988 'The effort to second-guess the actions of the captain of that ship will be rebuffed.'' VP G. Bush Iran's foreign minister, Ali-Akbar Velayati, told the U.N. Security Council that the U.S. downing of an Iran Airbus 665 by the USS Vincennes was "a barbaric massacre."

US Compensation: With or Without Strings Attached?

Part 11 - JULY 13 1988 ''What's a life worth under international law? No one really knows.'' -- Richard B. Lillich, University of Virginia Law School According to a recent poll, three out of five Americans oppose compensation. Those sentiments are hardly surprising given Teheran strained relation with the West, and the US in particular. Few have forgotten the destruction of the US embassy in Iran. And many have suspected that Tehran played a role in the murder of 241 U.S. servicemen in Beirut.

Reagan: US will pay compensation to Iranian families

Part 10 ''From the initial point, it has been our belief that this was a justifiable defensive action. We have seen no data or information to change that conclusion.'' Marlin Fitzwater, the White House spokesman

British Intel reports critical of US shot down

Part 9 - "Facts are stupid things" Ronald Reagan, July 11 1988 Republican National Convention The Sunday Times of London reported that a British intelligence report is ''severely critical'' of the United States Navy in the downing of an Iranian airliner on July 3. The British report is based on radio communications monitored in the Persian Gulf.

Iran refuses cease-fire with Iraq

Part 8 - JULY 10 1988 ''Why is America allied with Iraq? Any blind man can see who started this war. Why is America shooting down our civilian plane? I am a diplomatic man and a religious man. I think we should be friendly with everybody, but not if they hate us so.'' Abdullah Nafeiri, Tehran restaurant owner

Tehran Denies Discord in Response to Airliner Downing

Part 7 "We suggest that the United States has some additional crimes stored away for Iran, and that is why we do not push for any revenge. Wise people understand why we do not take revenge." --Hojatolislam Hashemi Rafsanjani, speaker of Iran's Parliament and commander of the armed forces

Tehran asserts right to revenge

Part 6 ''This is one of the biggest crimes of any war.'' Iranian President Ali Khamenei, July 8, 1988 A crowd estimated at 10,000 chanted ''Death to America!'' - in English - as President Ali Khamenei, speaking alongside 72 coffins draped in Iranian flags, vowed revenge and called the downing of the airliner by a United States warship ''an act of murder.''

American Flag Carriers up Security

Part 5 ''We are taking the threats seriously.'' Stephen Heckscher, Spokesman for Trans World Airlines in London, July 7, 1988

Pentagon begins its investigation of airliner shot down

Part 4 ''We made a tragic mistake, and innocent people were killed through no intent of the United States. It seems to me compensation, as a humanitarian gesture, is appropriate.'' Brent Scowcroft, President Ford's national security adviser, July 6, 1988

Iran supreme leader calls for real war against USA

Part 3 ''We must all be prepared for a real war and go to the war fronts and fight against America and its lackeys.'' Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, July 5, 1988