Soviets Not Backing Embargo

The Soviet Union withheld its support today from a U.S. call for a worldwide arms embargo against Iran and it urged the U.N. Security Council to “investigate the question of responsibility” for the Persian Gulf war.

Foreign Minister Eduard A. Shevardnadze, in a speech to the 42nd General Assembly session, appealed for a cautious approach to ending the bloodshed. He said the council should take steps to assess blame for the Iran-Iraq War “within a clearly established time frame.” His statement cast doubt that the Soviet Union would vote for sanctions against Iran at this point.