Multiple Mission

Iraq wins some support

Since Iran's unsuccessful attempt to invade Iraq last summer, the Iran-Iraq conflict has once again become "the forgotten war"--except for citizens of the two countries, who continue to suffer from the bloodletting that began when Iraq invaded Iran in September 1980. Iranian leaders still boast that they will sweep across to Iraq's western frontiers, eventually overthrowing the regime of President Saddam Hussein. But so far, Tehran has managed to capture only a thin sliver of Iraqi border territory as a result of its offensive last summer, at a cost of an estimated 30,000 casualties.

Iraq's Saddam Hussein has been able to withstand his losses with the help of nearly $30 billion in Arab economic aid over the past two years. In anticipation of a renewed Iranian military offensive after the rainy season ends next month, the Iraqi regime has mounted a broad diplomatic effort to improve Baghdad's ties with the West and buttress its position in the Arab world. Last week Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz flew to Paris on a multiple mission. He met with Massoud Rajavi, the exiled leader of the Mujahedin-e Khalq, the leftist Iranian guerrilla organization that seeks to overthrow Ayatullah Ruhollah Khomeini and the Tehran government. Later, Aziz and Rajavi issued a joint communique calling for a halt to hostilities and a negotiated settlement.

Although it was highly unusual for Aziz to deal with Rajavi, Tehran had more reason to be concerned about Aziz's meetings in Paris with Egyptian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Butros Ghali and with French officials. Egypt has provided Iraq with ammunition and spare parts. In response, the Iraqi regime, a hard-line Arab government that once advocated the ostracism of Egypt after it signed a peace treaty with Israel, has become an outspoken proponent of Egypt's return to the Arab fold. After meeting with Ghali, Aziz said that Baghdad was committed to the "total reintegration" of Egypt with the Arab League.

The French, in an effort to preserve a balance of power in the region, have sold Iraq more than $4 billion in arms since the war began. Although no figures on new arms sales were revealed, French officials agreed to triple imports of Iraqi crude oil to help Iraq pay for arms purchases. On his departure, a grateful Aziz warmly thanked his "French friends."

Adding to Khomeini's troubles, police in West Germany arrested the Ayatullah's son-in-law, Sadegh Tabatabai, 39, upon his arrival in Duesseldorf two weeks ago. A "special ambassador," Tabatabai helped negotiate the release of the U.S. hostages in 1981. He was charged with illegal possession of 3.3 lbs. of raw opium. This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so viewer discretion is required.