The 23rd of Muharam, 1411, that corresponds to Aug. 14, 1990 AD.
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate:
The Respected Mr. Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjhani, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran:
Putting our trust in the Almighty Allah, we are aiming for the removal of all obstacles in the way of brotherly relations among all Muslims and those who choose brotherhood among Muslims of our neighbor Iran.
We are aiming for opening the way to serious interaction among all believers to confront the evil-doers who wish to bring evil onto all Muslims and the Arab nation, and for pushing Iraq and Iran away from blackmail and evil tricks of the international powers and their agents in the region.
In accordance with the spirit of the initiative we announced on Aug. 12, 1990, through which we sought to establish a comprehensive and lasting peace in the region, we seek to strip those with false apprehensions of their pretexts and stop them from diverting Iraq's potentials away from the noble causes of Muslims and Arabs.
In order to remove confusion from our trenches so that those with good intentions may find the way to normal relations between Iraq and Iran; and as fruit of our direct dialogue which has continued since our letterto you on April 21, 1990, capped by your Aug. 8, 1990, message to us; and as afinal, clear-cut solution that disarms all those with pretexts, we have decided the following:
Firstly, we accept your suggestion which came in the answer message dated Aug. 8, 1990 - which was received by our representative in Geneva Mr. Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti from your representative Mr. Syros Nasri - to consider the 1975 agreement as interrelated with the principles stated in our letter of July 7, 1990, specifically in what concerns the exchange of prisoners and Articles 6 and 7 of (U.N.) Resolution 598.
Secondly, on the basis of what is mentioned above and the contents of our message to you on July 7, 1990, we are willing to send an official delegation to Tehran, or receive an official delegation here in Baghdad - at the level that has been agreed upon - to work out details of agreements and prepare for their signing.
Thirdly, as a goodwill gesture our withdrawal will start on Friday Aug. 17, 1990. We will withdraw all our troops which face you along the border, leaving a symbolic presence with the border police units to carry out the routine daily duties of normal circumstances.
Fourthly, an immediate and comprehensive exchange of all prisoners of war held in Iran and Iraq through the border posts of Khanaqin and Qasr-E-Shirin and other border points to be agreed upon. We will take the initiative in this, starting this coming Friday, Aug. 17, 1990.
Brother President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjhani: in this decision, everything has become clear and everything you have sought and has been focusing on is realized. What is still lacking is circulating the necessary documents so we can look forward to a new life of cooperation on the principles of Islam and respect of each other's rights, so we can deter all those fishing in dirty waters and cooperate to turn the gulf into a lake of peace, free of foreign fleets that harbor ill intentions against us.
Allah is Great and thanks be to Him,
Saddam Hussein,
President of the Republic of Iraq,
The 23rd of Muharam, 1411, that corresponds to Aug. 14, 1990 AD.
