HC Deb 21 October 1987 vol 120 cc768-9W
46. Mr. Andrew Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the current initiatives to prevent a further escalation of violence in the gulf.

Mr. Mellor

We played a leading role in the adoption of SCR 598 by the Security Council on 20 July. We have made it plain to Iran and Iraq that they have an obligation to accept this resolution, in particular, a ceasefire, and that recalcitrance will lay them open to enforcement measures. We support the efforts of the Secretary General to obtain implementation of SCR 598, and favour parallel work on an arms embargo, in case this should prove necessary.