Saudi Arabia and the Iran-Iraq War

This file concerns Saudi Arabia and the Iran-Iraq War. It contains correspondence on:

• A letter from the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Saud Bin Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud to the UK Foreign Minister Sir Geoffrey Howe, regarding Iranian attacks on shipping in the Gulf
• The downing of an Iranian aircraft by a Saudi aircraft, and concerns about possible retaliation from Iran
• The offer of Jordan to provide military assistance to Bahrain, and Saudi intervention to prevent this
• A report that four Saudi naval vessels recently left their base at Jedda [Jeddah]
• The possibility of a visit to Iran by Prince Saud Bin Faisal
• The possibility that Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani will be invited to participate in the Hajj, and Saudi efforts to get agreement from Iran and Iraq not to attack shipping and oil installations in the Gulf
• Saudi defence measures, including navy patrols in the Gulf, and the preparation of sites for Stinger missiles
• A proposal to insert a short paragraph, on the Saudi role in the efforts to resolve the Iran-Iraq conflict, into a speech by the Prime Minister as a show of support for the Saudi Government.