U.S.-Soviet Talks on Gulf and Mideast Peace Expected in July

Senior U.S. and Soviet officials will meet next month in a neutral European country to confer on problems in the Persian Gulf, prospects for Mideast peace talks and the protracted war in Afghanistan, according to Washington sources.

Richard W. Murphy, assistant secretary of state for the Middle East, will ask senior Soviet diplomat Vladimir P. Polyakov for help in steering a resolution through the U.N. Security Council calling for a cease-fire in the 6 1/2-year-old Iran-Iraq War, the sources said.

In a measure aimed at Iran, Murphy also will ask Polyakov for Soviet backing for a follow-up resolution that would impose a worldwide arms embargo on whichever side does not stop fighting, the sources added.

The resolutions must be unanimous to get through the Security Council. The Soviets have the power to veto either or both.

“On the diplomatic side, we need their help,” said a U.S. official, who demanded anonymity.

Murphy’s agenda also includes the Middle East and Afghanistan.

Jordan wants the Soviets present before negotiating peace terms with Israel. While the Reagan Administration is skeptical, it is pursuing the idea.

Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir wants to keep the Soviets out and is against a conference, while Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres is willing to go along with Jordan’s King Hussein.

On Afghanistan, Murphy is hoping the Soviets are tiring of their 7 1/2-year-old war with Muslim rebels and will accept negotiations aimed at the withdrawal of the Red Army and the return of millions of Afghan refugees.