The fifth year of the imposed war came to an end in 1985 when the Islamic Republic of Iran, in view of all the restrictions and economic and military pressures, had shown supremacy over the Ba'athist regime via a number of operations that would amaze Saddam and his backers in Washington, Tel Aviv and regional Arab Sheikhdoms.

This was while the Ba'athist regime enjoyed every type of financial, political, economic, military and intelligence support.

Saddam tried to retaliate humiliating defeats at the battle field by bombing Iranian cities and targeting tankers and oil terminals of Iran in the Persian Gulf. The Ba'athist army resorted to usage of chemical weapons before the eyes of the international organizations, especially the UN. In the wake of the Iraqi attacks on Khark Island and oil installations, in the midst of the war, Iran tried to disrupt Iraqi oil exports from the Al-Bakr and Al-Omayya oil platforms. Iraq lacked adequate docks and oil facilities in the Persian Gulf. Therefore, Iranian bombers attacked the oil installations inside the Iraqi territory, too.

With the rise of Iraqi attacks in the Persian Gulf, it was natural that Iran could not remain indifferent towards bombing its oil tankers and terminals by the Iraqi planes. Thus, the Islamic Republic took defensive measures to reduce damage to oil tankers and deter the invading army from continuation of such acts. On the one hand, Iran concluded contracts with some relief firms to escort the tankers, so that they would immediately be rescued in case of damage. On the other hand, Iran gradually changed the location of export terminals from Khark Island to Siri Island and then around Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Moreover, fake targets were put on some damaged ships to guide missiles to false direction so that other ships could leave safely.

The Islamic Republic of Iran declared that if the Iraqi regime made the Persian Gulf insecure for Iran, it would become insecure for all. It was also announced that the Strait of Hormuz would be closed down if Iran's oil exports were severed. Of course, Iran never implemented such a threat; yet it placed on the agenda some defensive and offensive measures to gain deterrence in the Persian Gulf. The Iranian Navy has always monitored the safety of shipping lines in the Persian Gulf. With the expansion of the Ba'athist army's aggressive measures against Iran's ships, islands and oil installations in the Persian Gulf, the Islamic Republic Navy began inspection of the ships to control any arrival of weapons and export of Iraqi oil via the Persian Gulf.

During the war, inspection of the ships continued through radio communication and direct observation, if needed. The Islamic Republic of Iran was trying to avoid behaving like Iraqi dictator in the Persian Gulf. But with the escalation of Iraqi attacks on Khark Island and oil wells and ships, Iran had no choice but to carry out retaliatory aerial operations against the regime in Baghdad. Hence, as the Iraqi attacks on the Iranian ships and tankers increased in the Persian Gulf the Islamic Republic of Iran, also, took retaliatory measures to prevent Saddam's invading army from mounting attacks. This caused the Saudi regime to enter the scene. Thus, on May 19, 1985, the Saudi foreign minister traveled to Iran to make Iranian officials to accept a halt in their rightful measures which would indeed lead to buying time for Iraq.

In response, the Iranian Majlis speaker Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said the Saudis had started helping Iraq once Iran entered the Iraqi soil. Saud Al-Faisal called for ceasefire. Hashemi Rafsanjani said they should accept that Iraq is the aggressor and the aggressor should stand on trial at an international tribunal.

In 1985 and before the beginning of Val-Fajr 8 operation and seizure of Faw strategic port, Iraq began to strengthen position and capabilities of the army. The Iraqi regime allocated half of its annual gross domestic product (nearly 14 billion dollars) to purchase of various arms and ammunitions as well as acquiring the technology for the required weaponry. The Ba'athist invading army had a good dominance over Iran's moves. The air force of the country had some 600 bombers and fighter jets, including Topolov, MiG 21, 23 and 25, Sukhoi 5 and 22, Mirage F1 bomber fighters and anti-aircraft missile named Super Etandard that had been bought from France with pilot. At that time, the operational capability of the Iraqi air force was about four times that of the Iranian Air Force.

Furthermore, the Arab countries, including the Saudi regime, the UAE regime, Kuwait, and so on, continued their political, economic, psychological and propaganda support for Saddam's regime. Regimes such as Egypt and Jordan extended political, propaganda and military aid to Saddam. The support of European countries for the Ba'athist regime, also, increased in the form of arms exports to the country, so that France, in addition to Mirage F1 planes, provided the regime with laser bombs and anti-radar missiles to enable the Baathist army to attack Iran's oil terminals as well as tankers.

Germany also increased export of technology for development of chemical weapons to Saddam regime. The Soviets continued to provide the regime with sophisticated weapons, including aircraft, helicopters, tanks, personnel carriers and long range surface-to-surface missiles. Saddam's regime also received more field artillery from Austria with a range of over 45 kilometers. The dictatorial regime in Iraq tried to have robust defensive array and offensive systems on the fronts and continue the war on cities in order to put pressure on the people of Iran. The Ba'athist army was also equipped with systems to attack Iran's remote cities and towns. Hence, it attacked Iran's economic centers. The last but not the least, the Great Satan (the US) provided the Iraqi regime with further and more precise intelligence assistance to monitor and detect Iran's military moves, especially through the AWACS spying aircraft stationed in Arabia. The US provided agricultural subsidies to Saddam's regime. The magnificent Val Fajr-8 operation was carried out in such circumstances just to prove the prowess and valour of the Iranian forces while the Iraqi army was at the peak of its ability and readiness. Next time we will continue the discussion.

FK/RM/ME