This annotated chronology is based on the data sources that follow each entry. Public sources often provide conflicting information on classified military programs. In some cases we are unable to resolve these discrepancies, in others we have deliberately refrained from doing so to highlight the potential influence of false or misleading information as it appeared over time. In many cases, we are unable to independently verify claims. Hence in reviewing this chronology, readers should take into account the credibility of the sources employed here.

Inclusion in this chronology does not necessarily indicate that a particular development is of direct or indirect proliferation significance. Some entries provide international or domestic context for technological development and national policymaking. Moreover, some entries may refer to developments with positive consequences for nonproliferation.

Mid-1980s
Mana International Investments, a company registered in Poland and controlled by Israeli businessman Nachum Manbar, supplies Iran with nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) protective suits.
—"CW Deliveries from China," Iran Brief, 6 July 1995.

1984-1985
Iran begins to use lethal CW that was captured from Iraqi unexploded ordinances and in artillery rounds. Analysts have pointed out that it is possible that the Iranian troops were not aware that they were firing chemical munitions, since Iraq did not mark chemical rounds in any special way.
—Gregory F. Giles, "The Islamic Republic of Iran and Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Weapons," in Peter R. Lavoy, Scott D. Sagan, and James J. Wirtz, eds., Planning The Unthinkable: How New Powers Will Use Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Weapons (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2000), p. 91.

1985
Syria reportedly agrees to supply Iran with CW, but later backs away from the offer.
—Jack Anderson and Dale Van Atta, "Iran May Turn Chemical Tales on Iraq," Washington Post, 2 October 1985; Tom Diaz, "Syria Said to Have Offered Chemical Weapons to Iran," Washington Times, 9 December 1985, p. 4; Victor A. Utgoff, The Challenge of Chemical Weapons: An American Perspective (New York: St. Matin's Press, 1991), p. 83.

1985
Iran begins to use CW offensively. It initially uses chemical artillery rounds, which were either acquired from Syria or captured Iraqi stocks.
—Andrew Rathmell, "Iran's Weapons of Mass Destruction," Jane's Intelligence Review – Special Report No. 6, June 1995, p. 16; Anthony Cordesman, "Creating Weapons of Mass Destruction, Armed Forces Journal International 126, February 1989, p. 56.

March 1985
An Iranian opposition group in Italy reportedly claims that a chemical fertilizer plant in Marv Dasht, Iran, was converted over a three-year period with supervision from West German and Italian companies and experts, "with the aim of making chemical weapons."
—Gordon M. Burck and Charles C. Flowerree, International Handbook on Chemical Weapons Proliferation (Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1991), p. 254.

March 1985
During a trip to the Persian Gulf by UN Secretary General Perez de Cuellar and Giandomenico Pico, the latter reports that during a discussion between Perez de Cuellar, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati, and Iranian Majlis Speaker Hashemi Rafsanjani, Rafsanjani states that CW has terrified Iranian troops. He then states that, "We possess more advanced facilities to produce chemical weapons, but we do not use them. We would not ever do so if Iraq continued to use them." Velayati interrupts Rafsanjani and states that Iran does not even want to produce CW, but Rafsanjani simply repeats that Iran does not want to use CW, leaving the possibility that Iran might produce them.
—Giandomenico Pico, Man Without a Gun: One Diplomat's Secret Struggle to Free the Hostages, Fight Terrorism, and End a War (New York: Random House: Times Books, 1999), p. 67.

March 1985
Iran accuses Iraq of responding to its first major infantry offensive into southern Iraq in 13 months with poison gas attacks.
—David M. Alpern, Ralph Joseph, Rod nordland, Michael A. Lerner, "The Iran-Iraq War; Punch—And Counterpunch," Newsweek, 25 March 1985, p. 64.

11-17 March 1985
Iraq allegedly uses mustard gas to turn back Iranian forces launching an assault to cross the Tigris River and cut the highway linking Baghdad with Basra. Tests on 13 Iranian casualties flown to European hospitals from Iran showed that they were victims of mustard gas exposure.
—Jared Mitchell, Paul Grant, Carole Jerome, William Lowther, and David North, "An Unholy War Attrition," Maclean's, 1 April 1985, p.20.

Mid-March to Mid-April 1985
33 Iranian soldiers suffering from chemical burns are flown to Europe for treatment.
—"Gulf War; Fooling the People," The Economist, 13 April 1985, p. 49.

13 March 1985
In a letter to the UN, Iran accuses Iraq of "deploying chemical weapons" in the marshes near Basra. Iran's Deputy Foreign states that Iran formally asked Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar to prevent Iraq from using CW. He states that if the UN fails to prevent Iraq, Iran will feel free to respond in kind.
—David Hirst, "Gulf Fighting Rages as Iranians Aim for Tigris / Gulf War," The Guardian (London), 14 March 1985, Mohammed Salam, "Untitled," Associated Press, 14 March 1985.

14 March 1985
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister tells a news conference that Iraq fired CW-filled artillery shells at Iranian forces. He states that, "We think the lack of a stand by the international community against Iraq's use of chemical weapons indeed authorizes us to use chemical weapons against Iraq, but we still hope the international community will be able to stop Iraq."
—Herbert H. Denton, "Iranian Offensive Pushes into Iraq; Tehran, Baghdad Hit," Washington Post, 14 March 1985, p. A21.

14 March 1985
Tehran Radio reports that 180 Iranians had been affected in the 13 March CW attack.
—"Iran-Iraq War: Attacks on Tehran, Baghdad and Gulf Maritime Target," Tehran Radio, 14 March 1985, reported in British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 15 March 1985, Part 4, p. A1.

15 March 1985
The reports that news services claim that Iraq has deployed CW three times against Iran during the most recent offensive.
—Herbert H. Denton, "US Reduces Staff at Beirut Embassy in Face of Threats; Tehran, Baghdad Hit in Iranian-Iraqi War," Washington Post, 15 March 1985, p. A1.

15 March 1985
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati makes a formal request to the UN to "take necessary steps to immediately stop this antihuman action." He suggests the UN establish a permanent mission in Tehran to investigate CW war crimes.
—Elaine Sciolino, "Bank in Baghdad Ripped by Blast; Cause in Dispute," New York Times, 15 March 1985, p. A1.

15 March 1985
Iranian President Ali Khamenei states that Iraq has resumed its use of cyanide and nerve gas in five sectors of the southern front. "We declare here and now that we are capable of retaliation against every action. If Iraq uses chemical weapons, we will give a firmer reply and be sure that we will do it." Khamenei goes on to state that Iran will "answer every fist with a harder fist."
—"Iran President Escapes Injury in Terrorist Blast," Los Angeles Times, 16 March 1985, p. 25.

16 March 1985
Iran's Majlis speaker Rafsanjani states during today's Majlis session that any bombing of an Iranian city would be "responded by bombardment of Baghdad," and that any attacks on ships in the Gulf would be "responded by bombardment of Basra." He states that "employment of chemical weapons in battlefields will receive a more severe response."
—"Iran Launches Second Missile at Iraqi Capital," Xinhua General Overseas News Service (PRC), 16 March 1985, item number: 031666.

19 March 1985
Iran's UN delegate accuses Iraq of using CW twice last week.
—Louis Wiznitzer, "UN Renews Effort to End Raging Iran-Iraq War," Christian Science Monitor, 19 March 1985, p. 9.

20 March 1985
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister says that 20 Iranian soldiers injured by Iraqi CW will be sent to Vienna, Bonn, Munich, and London shortly. He states that Iraq used mustard gas and smaller amounts of cyanide and phosphorous on seven occasions in the marshland fighting near Basra. According to him, the first occasion was before 14 March, while the other six were between 14 March and 16 March. He stated that the CW were dispersed by "shells fired from cannons," and that 200 Iranian soldiers had been hospitalized due to CW-induced "blisters on their bodies, skin and eye irritations and lung irritations."
—Elaine Sciolino, "Iran Repeats Gas Charge," New York Times, 20 March 1985, p. A8.

20 March 1985
Iraqi commanders paraded foreign reporters in front of a cache of captured Iranian equipment, some of which were Iranian gas masks. The reporters asked the Iraqi commander if Iraq had used CW in the attack, and he replied that "we did not use any because we do not have any. If we had some, we would use it."
—"Foreigners Flee Tehran as Iraq Warns Aircraft," Los Angeles Times, 20 March 1985, p. 1.

21 March 1985
A number of Iranian CW victims will be flown to London to receive medical treatment at a private hospital, the Iranian embassy reports today.
—"Iranian Soldiers Injured by Mustard Gas are Flown into London for Hospital Treatment," The Guardian (London), 22 March 1985.

22 March 1985
According to medical specialists in West Germany, tests prove that the 13 Iranian soldiers flown to West Germany to receive treatment were exposed to mustard gas.
—Reuters, "Mustard Gas Used on Iranians," Los Angeles Times, 20 March 1985, p. 1.

22 March 1985
Iran says it has sent 33 soldiers wounded by CW to Britain, West Germany, Austria, and Belgium to receive medical treatment.
—"Iraq Raids Iranian Cities; Iranian Gunners Shell Iraqi Border Cities," Associated Press, 22 March 1985.

23 March 1985
Dr. Gernot Pauser, an Austrian physician treating eight wounded Iranians, states that his team of doctors is positive the soldiers were exposed to mustard gas and one other unidentified substance.
—Mohammed Salam, "Untitled," Associated Press, 24 March 1985.

24 March 1985
One of the eight Iranian soldiers flown to Vienna has died of his injuries.
—Mohammed Salam, "Untitled," Associated Press, 24 March 1985.

25 March 1985
US intelligence analysts confirm that Iraq recently used CW against Iran along its southern front. According to Reagan administration officials, a preliminary examination concludes that Iraq used mustard gas in its attacks.

Unnamed State Department officials on hand for a meeting between US Secretary of State George Schultz and Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz said they had no doubt that Iraq had used CW again. The Los Angeles Times reports that State Department officials said that Schultz "bluntly put Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz on notice that the administration expects Iraq to stop engaging in chemical warfare. However, when asked after the meeting if he discussed CW with Schultz, Aziz said he did not recall any discussion about CW during the meeting. A separate State Department official refused to confirm that Schultz brought up the topic of CW with Aziz, but said that Schultz had done so "on repeated occasions and that Aziz left the meeting 'well aware of our concern on this issue'."
—Bernard Gwertzman, "US Says Iraqis Use Poison Gas; Schultz and Baghdad Officials Meet," New York Times, 26 March 1985, p. A1; UPI, "US Rebuke to Iraq," Los Angeles Times 26 March 1985; David B. Ottaway, "US Says Iraq Used Gas again in War with Iran," Washington Post, 27 March 1985, p. A25.

27 March 1985
An Iranian soldier undergoing treatment for CW-related injuries in London dies today.
—"Baghdad Threatens to Extend War to all Parts of Iran / Possible Gulf War Escalation," The Guardian (London), 27 March 1985.

27 March 1985
Iraq's UN ambassador denies that his government was using CW against Iran.
—Mohammed Salam, "Untitled," Associated Press, 27 March 1985.

28 March 1985
The Iranian Foreign Ministry issues a statement welcoming UN Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar's 26 March statement that expressed regret and concern over the use of CW in the Gulf War. Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati sends a letter to Sharifuddin Pirzado, Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and requests that he do all that he can to limit the further use of CW by Iraq.
—"Iraqi Air Attack on Iranian Capital leaves 16 dead," Xinhua General Overseas News Service (PRC), 28 March 1985, item number: 032865.

28 March 1985
IRNA states that unless Iraq stops "attacking residential areas of Iranian cities, targeting their fire on commercial shipping and using chemical weapons," it would "immediately lead to retaliation in kind."
—Judith Miller, "Big Blast Rocks Capital of Iraq; 6th in 2 Weeks," New York Times, 28 March 1985, p. A1.

28 March 1985
The Iranian War Information Headquarters claims that 200 Iranian soldiers have been injured by mustard gas in recent fighting in the Huwaizah Marshes.
—"Baghdad again Hit by Iran," Financial Times (London), 28 March 1985, p. 4.

28 March 1985
Fifteen additional wounded Iranian soldiers are flown to Europe to receive treatment for CW injuries. Three are taken to Paris, two to London and Geneva, and 10 to Frankfurt. According to airport workers, the soldiers showed no visible wounds.
—"Alleged Gas Victims Arrive for Treatment," Associated Press, 28 March 1985.

April 1985
Unnamed US officials claim that the United States has picked up "a certain amount of information from radio interceptions of discussions by Iranian and Iraqi commanders about their ability to use chemicals."
—"US Fears Iran May Use Chemical Arms," New York Times, 25 April 1985.

April 1985
In addition, US "intelligence sources" report that Iran may be acquiring CW munitions, as well as Scud missiles, from Libya. Iran denies this report.
—William Beecher, "US Aides Say Iran Ready to Use Toxic Gas," Boston Globe, 19 April 1985, p. 1; Tehran Domestic Service, 23 April 1985; FBIS Document, FBIS-SAS, 24 April 1985.

1 April 1985
Iraq used CW at least five times against Iran during the month of March, according to a newly released US government report.
—"Iraq is Waging Chemical War," Washington Post, 1 April 1985, p. A10.

7 April 1985
During a meeting with the UN Secretary General, Majlis speaker Rafsanjani told Perez de Cuellar that Iran did not trust the various mediators trying to bring about an end to the war with Iraq because none of them adopted what Iran considered to be a fair, just, and humanitarian stance to the war. Rafsanjani said that Perez de Cuellar's stance was the first positive step he had seen, but complained that the Security Council had chose to deal with the problem "in a sly manner."
—"UN Secretary General in Tehran," Tehran Radio, 7 April 1985, reported in British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 9 April 1985, Part 4, p. A1.

8 April 1985
United Nations officials in New York reported that Iraq used mustard gas during its victorious Tigris River battle in mid-March.
—Jared Mitchell, "A Conflict Out of Control," Maclean's, 8 April 1985, p24.

8 April 1985
Iran's official news agency reports that Iraq used artillery shells filled with mustard and nerve agents in four places in southern Iraq yesterday, including in Huwaizeh.
—Mohammed Salam, "Iraqis Bomb Cities as UN Chief Arrives in Baghdad," Associated Press, 8 April 1985.

9 April 1985
UN Secretary General Perez de Cuellar, in Tehran for talks before flying to Baghdad later in the day, states that he will call for an end to attacks on civilian areas, commercial shipping and aviation, and the use of chemical weapons. Iranian Foreign Minister Velayati calls the secretary general's comments "relatively fair" while Iran's president said they were "praiseworthy."
—"UN Chief's Iran Visit Ends," Xinhua General Overseas News Service (PRC), 9 April 1985, item number: 040935.

9 April 1985
UN officials credited the Security Council's March resolution that supported Iran's charges that Iraq was using CW as a reason for the cordial atmosphere between the Secretary General and Iranian leaders when he visited them in Iran earlier this week.
—Don Shannon, "UN Leader's Gulf War Trip Called a Success, Los Angeles Times, 9 April 1985, p. 9.

9 April 1985
IRNA reports that Iran asked Perez de Cuellar to open a new investigation into Iraq's CW attack on Monday that killed 11 and wounded "many others."
—"Gulf Foes Still Wide Apart, Associated Press, 9 April 1985, reported in New York Times, 10 April 1985, p. A11.

10 April 1985
Iran issues a formal statement that Iraq has shelled 12 separate locations with CW munitions in the past two days. The statement urged the Secretary General to take immediate action to investigate the attacks.
—Patrick Keatley, "Gulf War Gap 'as Wide as Ever': UN Secretary-General de Cuellar Ends Peace Mission to Iran and Iraq," The Guardian, 10 April 1985.

10 April 1985
While speaking at the Razi vaccine factory in Karaj, Hashemi Rafsanjani states that Iran "will show its power" should Iraq continue launching CW attacks against it. Iran has "limited patience," according to Rafsanjani, when it comes to Iraq's immoral use of CW. He said that thus far, Iran has attempted numerous times to convince the Iraqi regime not to resort to CW. He states, "But if the Iraqis will not change their mind and continue their mischief, we will show them our power."
—"The Iran-Iraq War: In Brief; Rafsanjani's Warning to Iraq on Chemical Attacks," Islamic Republic News Agency, 10 April 1985, reported in British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 13 April 1985, Part 4, p. A1.

11 April 1985
Iraq threatens to use "new, highly developed" weapons to halt Iranian forces while Iran claims that Iraq has employed CW rockets and artillery shells against its forces for three consecutive days, killing 11 soldiers.
—"Iraq Warns Iran of New Weapons," Washington Post, 11 April 1985, p. A29.

11 April 1985
The Christian Science Monitor reports that Secretary General Perez de Cuellar succeeded in getting both Iran and Iraq to agree to a ban on CW as well as a ban on targeting civilian areas during his meeting with leaders from those two countries. However, that agreement has been broken by the recent fighting and charges by Iran of Iraqi CW use. Perez de Cuellar is expected to send a new UN team to investigate the Iranian claims.
—"UN Chief's Gulf War Mission Leaves Door Ajar for Future Role," Christian Science Monitor, 11 April 1985, p. 12.

13 April 1985
An Iranian military communiqué reports that Iraq attacked Iranian forces on the southern front with CW on 10 and 12 April, wounding numerous Iranian soldiers.
—"Around the World; Iran Accuses Iraq of Using Chemical Arms," Reuters, 13 April 1985, reported in New York Times, 14 April 1985, p. 5.

16 April 1985
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati tells the Conference on Disarmament that 4,600 Iranians have been killed or injured in CW attacks since 3 March. Recently, while at the UN, he stated that, "The use of inhuman chemical weapons is becoming a normal act at the international level for the tramplers of the rights of peoples due to the consecutive deployment of this weapon by the Iraqi regime....A fortnight ago, exactly at a time when the UN Secretary General was in Baghdad to pursue his efforts to persuade the Iraqi regime to abide by international conventions and regulations, the Islamic Republic of Iran was once again the victim of an extensive chemical attack....Could you, as the most informed individuals conducting the multilateral disarmament negotiations in this conference come to terms with your conscience to justify the catastrophic and conspiratorial indifference of international bodies vis-à-vis this crime of genocide through lack of appropriate international means to prevent the use of chemical weapons?...The Iraqi regime has in fact declared to the UN and the person of the secretary general that it is determined not only to continue the deployment of chemical weapons, but to absolutely disregard the world public opinion and all international conventions and regulations. Does this tragic state of affairs not persuade all fair-minded people to suspect that the Iraqi regime dares ridicule all universal values of humanity on the strength of certain behind-the-scene backings, and escape any criticism by the Security Council and other practical international measures? Could the Security Council deny that its silence has not persuaded and encouraged Iraq to continue to deploy these weapons? The Islamic Republic of Iran once again openly declares that in spite of its ability to retaliate in all such cases, [it] would like not to violate international laws and regulations, and would do so only when there is no other option. Nevertheless, unfortunately, the repeated violations of the international laws by the Iraqi regime have led us to the conclusion that under the present circumstances, priority must be accorded to the discussions, negotiations, and efforts which have to be made in order to establish a practical guarantee system for the international regulations. Such discussions must take place before all others, otherwise, in view of the precedent that Iraq has set; it is feared that the major international laws and regulations which are the fruit of the great pains of mankind and the universal human values might be subjected to total elimination."

Velayati also states that while the Secretary General was in Baghdad, Iraq began using aircraft to spray a Tabun/Cyanide compound on Iranian troops while at the same time attacking them with mustard gas. He reiterated that Iran has requested the UN establish a permanent mission in Tehran to investigate Iraq CW abuse. [Note: It is possible that the "Tabun/Cyanide" compound may in fact be simply the nerve agent tabun along with cyanide, the latter being a contaminant from the tabun molecule in sample analysis].
—"Iranian Foreign Minister's Speech to Geneva Disarmament Conference," Islamic Republic News Agency, 16 April 1985, reported in British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 18 April 1985, Part 4, p. A1; Iain Guest, "Iran Charges Baghdad with Gas Attacks / Iranian Foreign Minister Tells UN Conference of Iraqi Attacks in Gulf War," The Guardian, 17 April 1985.

17 April 1985
Around 45 Iranian soldiers suffering from apparent CW-related injuries arrive in Vienna and are dispersed throughout Europe to receive treatment for their injuries.
—"The World," Los Angeles Times, 17 April 1985, p. 2.

18 April 1985
An Iranian soldier transported to Munich to receive treatment less than 24 hours ago has already died to from mustard gas-related injuries. Around 20 other Iranian soldiers are currently in West Germany receiving treatment for CW injuries.
—Deutsche Presse-Agenteur, "Iranian Soldier Dies from Gas Poisoning," Los Angeles Times, 18 April 1985, p. 2.

20 April 1985
After examining Iranian soldiers in London and Ghent, Dr. Manuel Dominguez, a UN chemical weapons expert, determines that Iranian troops were exposed to Yperite [sulfur mustard], and possibly hydrocyanic acid. [Note: Iraqi use of hydrocyanic acid has not yet been confirmed, at least according to open sources.]
—Deutsche Presse-Agenteur, "Iranian Soldier Dies from Gas Poisoning," Los Angeles Times, 18 April 1985, p. 2.

20 April 1985
US intelligence reports now that Iran also appears to be using CW, although the reports state that the United States cannot determine if Iran made the weapons itself, or if it received them from Libya.
—"UN Report Identifies Poison Gas/Yperite used in Gulf War," The Guardian, 20 April 1985.

24 April 1985
The US State Department spokesman states that Iran "has been seeking to develop a chemical weapons capability and may now be in a position to use such a weapon."
—Don Oberdorfer, "Chemical Arms Curbs Are Sought; Officials Alarmed by Increasing Use of Banned Weapons," Washington Post, 9 September 1985, p. A1.

24 April 1985
A senior State Department official who has closely followed the development of CW in the Gulf says, "I think this is a very dangerous situation." He reports that Iran is very upset by the weak UN response. Administration officials state that Iran is preparing for another offensive and that it may use CW this time. US intelligence bases its claims by closing monitoring the sales of CW precursors and by intercepting Iraqi and Iranian military communication.
—"US Fears Iran May Use Chemical Arms," New York Times, 25 April 1985, p. A3.

25 April 1985
In response to the US claims, an IRNA report commenting on a recent address by Rafsanjani to the intelligence and operations unit of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, states "The USA suddenly claims that Iran has transferred its immeasurable capabilities to the fronts. This claim has two sides to it. One is their aim today, whereby Iraq thinks that the only weapons it has is the chemical one and therein makes a mistake and will later understand that it has made a mistake, as in everything else. The other is that they wish to exonerate the Iraqi regime with such talk." Referring to the fact that the USA raises the issue of our use of chemical substances in order to minimize the crimes and heinous deeds perpetrated by Saddam, Hashemi-Rafsanjani then said, "Of course they will be beset with difficulties in this matter since the Iraqi soldier is not like the Iranian soldier who goes to the fronts seeking martyrdom. The moment they sense the smell of chemical substances they will most certainly not remain at the front. This contradiction has come about in the moves by our enemy." Rafsanjani goes on to lament how the French government is silencing French physicians treating Iranian CW victims and refusing them to state the cause of their injuries.
—"Rafsanjani's Speech to Iranian Revolution Guards Intelligence Unit," Islamic Republic News Agency, 25 April 1985, reported in British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 27 April 1985, Part 4, p. A1.

25 April 1985
Iran's Prime Minister states that recent US allegations about Iran's CW program and its possible use of CW against Iraq is nothing but a ploy to influence the UN Security Council and force it "to issue a watered-down resolution in condemnation of chemical weapons use in general, which might also include a call for an end to the war."

25 April 1985
An Iranian military communiqué accused Iraq again of firing "several chemical shells," at 8 p.m., 24 April, along the northern front in the Marivan sector of Kordestan.
—"Iranian Statements on Iraq's use of Chemical Weapons," Islamic Republic News Agency, 25 April 1985, reported in British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 27 April 1985, Part 4, p. A1,

26 April 1985
Iran's Majlis Speaker Hashemi Rafsanjani states that the recent UN Security Council statement condemning CW is "a positive move." However, it contains "an unacceptable weakness" by not explicitly naming Iraq as the state using CW. "Now that you are condemning this act, and you know Iraq is responsible, why do you act like a coward and conservative? Speak clearly." The statement said that the Council is "appalled that chemical weapons have been used against Iranian soldiers during the month of March 1985." Rafsanjani says that Iran "would start talks on the war with the UN if the organization names Iraq as the aggressor and violator of various international laws in war."
—"Iran Welcomes UN's Stand against Use of Chemical Weapons in Gulf War," Xinhua General Overseas News Service (PRC), 26 April 1985, item number: 0426110; "Iran Says UN Chemical Condemnation Positive but Weak," Associated Press, 26 August 1985.

29 April 1985
US intelligence officials claim Iran is prepared to use poison gas, a new weapon, in an upcoming attack against the southern Iraqi city of Basra. Iran has positioned a 100,000-man assault force for this second and larger attack on Basra. After Iraq began using mustard gas and nerve gas in the war, Iran warned that it would retaliate with its own chemical arsenal, although there has been no evidence of Iranian CW activity until now. An American official claimed that now, "there is reason to believe both sides are ready to gas each other."
—Lucy Howard, "Iran vs. Iraq: Another Step on the Escalator," Newsweek, 29 April 1985, p. 13.

May 1985
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayti stated at a meeting of diplomats, "Now, faced with such an aggressor [as Iraq], we would like to ask the international community if there exists for the Islamic Republic of Iran any other option but to retaliate [against Iraq's chemical weapons attacks]."
—IRNA, 5 July 1984

10 May 1985
An Iranian soldier being treated for sulfur mustard injuries dies today in London.
—"Mustard Gas 'Killed Iranian': London Inquest into Death of Soldier Gholm Shivolco," The Guardian, 11 May 1985.

7 June 1985
Mohammed Ali Hadi, a member of Iran's Parliamentary Defense Commission, states that Iran will begin using CW unless Iraq stops using them.
—"The World," Los Angeles Times, 7 June 1985, p. 2.

19 June 1985
Hashemi Rafsanjani meets with diplomatic envoys from various countries to appeal to them to help Iran rid the region of Saddam Hussein. During the appeal, he condemns Iraqi violations of international laws such as attacking merchant ships and deploying CW.
—"Iran Appeals to World Governments for Reasonable Solution to Gulf War," Xinhua General Overseas News Service (PRC), 19 June 1985, item number: 619114.

24 June 1985
Teheran IRNA reports that "a sum of 3.5 billion rials (about 35 million dollars) has been allocated for constructing five large chemical plants, the deputy minister of industries in charge of chemical sector, Mr. Bakshi said Monday [24 June]....On the domestic need for raw materials, he said that the imported materials were of 1,700 kinds, of which the government has agreed in principle to import 200. More than 1,000 industrial units have received operating permits so far, of which 300 units are to produce chemical and mineral materials. These units will save the government a sum of 400 million dollars in foreign exchange form its total yearly expenditure currently standing at 2 billion dollars in chemical purchases from abroad."
—"Five Large Chemical Plants to Be Constructed," Teheran IRNA in English, 24 June 1985, transcribed in FBIS-SAS-85-123, Vol. VIII, NO. 123, 26 June 1985, p. 14.

1 July 1985
Hashemi Rafsanjani supports Japan's three-point plan for ending the Iran-Iraq War. Japan's proposal was first released last year during a UN General Assembly session and calls for ensuring the safe passage of commercial shipping through the Gulf, the safety of ports, and the banning of CW. During a five-day official visit to Japan, Rafsanjani reportedly states that Iran has no objections with the Japanese proposal.
—"Rafsanjani Supports Japan's Proposal for Ending Gulf War," Jiji Press Ticker Service, 1 July 1985.

2 July 1985
During a meeting with Japan's Foreign Minister, Rafsanjani states that although his country is capable of attacking commercial ships in the Persian Gulf—as well as deploying CW—Iran has refused to do so on humanitarian and moral grounds.
—"Iran Renews Request to Japan to Buy Oil," Japan Economic Newswire, 2 July 1985.

4 August 1985
A Los Angeles Times investigation has uncovered an Iranian attempt to procure 400,000 CW protection suits and associated decontamination units from a Connecticut firm named Cofish International. The deal, for a reported $96 million, was brokered through a Swiss man named Rene Schuler currently living in Brazil. A Cofish executive became suspicious when Schuler stipulated that the suits could not be manufactured by any Jews and that the suits would be destined for a "Mideast country we can't talk about on the telephone." The executive then contacted the US Customs Service office in New Haven, Connecticut, who set up a dummy office in the company's export division. According to an investigator familiar with the case, the Iranians "didn't bat an eye when they heard the price for the suits was going to be $96 million." The executive reports that part of the scheme was to manufacture a phony export license stating that the final destination for the suits would be Rome. The Customs agent was able to arrange for Schuler to come to the United States to inspect the decontamination equipment. During their meeting at an East Hartford Connecticut hotel, Shuler stated: "You know where [the shipment] is going? It's going to Iran."
—Gaylord Shaw and Willian C. Rempel, "Billion-Dollar Iran Arms Search Spans US, Globe; Even Pentagon Penetrated by Massive Effort," Los Angeles Times, 4 August 1985, p. 1.

9 September 1985
The Washington Post reports that late last month, an US official knowledgeable about US intelligence on Iran stated that "Iran has the capability" to use CW. However, the few CW attacks attributed to Iran in the past appear to be shelling Iraqi troops with captured Iraqi CW munitions.
—Don Oberdorfer, "Chemical Arms Curbs are Sought; Officials Alarmed by Increasing Use of Banned Weapons," Washington Post, 9 September 1985, p. A1.

2 December 1985
Western intelligence sources confirm that Iraq has once again used poison gas against Iranian troops in the Gulf War. This month Iran protested at the United Nations that Iraq had shelled Iranian troops with "chemical cannonballs," severely injuring eight people. Although the United States has twice condemned Baghdad's use of mustard gas, US officials note that Iran has also developed a chemical arsenal—but with mixed results. There is no evidence Iran has used it at the front. "It seems they have succeeded [only] in gassing themselves," says one official.
—Lucy Howard, "Gulf War: Gas Again," Newsweek, 2 December 1985, p. 7.

2 December 1985
Unidentified Reagan administration officials state that Iran is likely to be developing the capability to produce CW. They state that Iran currently has "some capability" to deploy CW through the use of Iraqi mustard and nerve gas munitions captured during battles earlier this year and during 1984. When asked if Iran has chemical weapons, an anonymous source replies that "the answer is yes." Another source states that "we believe [the Iranians] have some [chemical warfare] capability and we believe they have an intent to develop a production capability. We believe they are working toward the development of a production capability." The source declines to elaborate on what evidence the United States has to substantiate these statements. Although others have suggested in the past that Iran had captured Iraqi CW munitions, this is believed to be the first suggestion that Iran is building an indigenous CW production capacity. Kenneth L. Adelman, director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, declines to state whether Iran or any other countries possess CW.
—Walter Andrews, "Iran Feared Near Turning Gulf War into Gas War," Washington Times, 3 December 1985, p. 1A.

21 December 1985
Frederick W. Axelgard, a Middle East expert with Georgetown University's Center for Strategic and International Studies, states that Iraq is in for a challenging two or three months due to Iran's buildup along the border and reports that Iran has "been seeking and perhaps acquiring chemical weapons capability."
—Norman Kempster, "Iranian Buildup on War Front Told; But US Officials Expect 5-Year Stalemate to Continue," Los Angeles Times, 21 December 1985, p. 2.

	Updated October 2003