Letter [to Mu`ammar Qadhdhafi]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Your Excellency Colonel Mu`ammar Qadhdhafi, leader of the `Arab Republic of Libya,

After greetings, I acknowledge the receipt of your letter calling for an end to attack cities. I deem it necessary to notify that attack on non-military areas has never been what we desired. We do not want civilian areas to be subjected to attacks. However, it is nearly four years that we are subjected to Iraqi missile attacks and have tolerated them. Islamic Republic of Iran officials have no choice but retaliation contrary to their intention. Despite commanding all sort of power to retaliate, as soon as the UN called for halt to the attacks, government of Islamic Republic of Iran accepted stopping attack on residential areas. However, in this span of time cases of violation by Iraq has been repeatedly observed, as confirmed by informed and impartial observers. Government of Islamic Republic of Iran is suffering from continuation of this state of affairs. It accepted the proposal of the US Secretary General on ceasing to hit civilian areas but Iraq evades the proposal and persists in attacking civilian targets.

At present, as declared time and again by the officials of Islamic Republic, the moment Iraq stops attacking civilian areas, Iran will stop retaliation most happily. Rest assured that your proposal is welcomed and our government accepts it.

Rouhullah al-Mousawi al-Khomeini