Full U.N. Security Council OKs Perez de Cuellar Iran Mission

The full 15-nation Security Council today authorized Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar’s mission to Tehran and the U.N. leader said Iran has agreed to discuss with him implementation of a U.N. plan to end the Iran-Iraq War.

He said he will travel next week to both combatant nations for talks on implementation of the plan.

Perez de Cuellar said the Security Council plans to ask that Iran and Iraq observe a cease-fire during his visit. The precise day of his departure has yet to be determined.

“My mandate is to discuss with the Iranians the implementation of Resolution 598,” he told reporters after meeting with the council.

Iraq has already said it would agree to a long-term cease-fire and comply with other aspects of the U.N. peace plan if Iran did as well. But Iran has not made a firm commitment, and the United States has threatened to push for a worldwide arms embargo unless Tehran agrees to the plan during the U.N. chief’s visit.

The centerpiece of the peace plan is Resolution 598, which the Security Council approved unanimously July 20. It calls for an immediate cease-fire, a return to internationally recognized borders, the exchange of prisoners of war and the creation of an impartial body to determine who started the conflict.