U.S. Plays ‘Dirty Game,’ Iraqi Parliament Warns

The Iraqi National Assembly on Sunday condemned U.S. arms shipments to Iran as a “dirty and very mean game” that will only fuel Iran’s six-year-old war with Iraq.

Foreign Minister Tarik Aziz asked the Arab League to take action to confront the dangers posed by the shipments.

“The arms shipment to Iran has ruined the United States’ credibility and shows that what U.S. officials say contradicts their deeds,” the 250-member National Assembly said in a statement issued at the end of a special session called to discuss the sales.

Washington’s avowed policy had been that it would not supply either side with weapons in the Iran-Iraq War. However, President Reagan confirmed last month that what he called a small quantity of weapons was sent to Iran during the course of 18 months of diplomatic contacts with that country.

Other U.S. officials since have said that about 2,000 TOW anti-tank missiles were sent, and sources in Iran have said 20 planeloads of weapons were shipped. U.S. Atty. Gen. Edwin Meese III said the weapons were sent via Israel.

The National Assembly said it was not convinced by Reagan’s contention that the weapons were provided largely in an attempt to improve relations with Iran and try to end the war.

In reality, the statement said, the weapons supported “Iran’s war machinery.” The lawmakers said the U.S. action deserved condemnation.

The state-run Iraqi News Agency, meanwhile, said Aziz sent a message to the Arab League asking that it take “appropriate measures to confront the dangers” of Israeli arms supplies to Iran.