Khomeini, Islamic nations 'progress' on war issue

March 2, 1981

Iran, host to a top-level Islamic peace mission, issued uncompromising public statements on the Gulf war Sunday and bluntly told the mediators to stop trying to force it into accepting peace talks with Iraq. Before they left for Baghdad, the leaders of seven Islamic countries and the Palestine Liberation Organization wound up talks on the second day of their two-day visit here but apparently failed to win any concessions.

State radio said peace efforts would fail unless the mediators realized that Iran would not negotiate as long as Iraqi troops remained on its soil.