MAJOR UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS ON IRAQ

Resolution 660 — August 2, 1990
The Security Council condemns Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, and demands Iraq's immediate and unconditional withdrawal.

Resolution 661 — August 6, 1990
The Security Council imposes economic sanctions against Iraq in response to their invasion of Kuwait and their failure to implement Resolution 660 (unconditional withdrawal from Kuwait).

Resolution 678 — November 29, 1990
Again in response to Iraq's continued occupation of Kuwait, the Security Council demands Iraq comply fully with Resolution 660 (unconditional withdrawal from Kuwait). The resolution authorizes "member states cooperating with the government of Kuwait" to use all necessary means to enforce the resolution and to restore peace and security in the region if Iraq did not withdraw by January 15, 1991.

Resolution 687 — April 3, 1991
Calling for a formal cease-fire to end the Gulf War, the Security Council demands that Iraq allow for the destruction of all its chemical and biological weapons. It also forced Iraq to unconditionally agree not to develop weapons of mass destruction. To oversee compliance of the resolution, the council establishes a special commission (UNSCOM) to conduct inspections of biological and chemical weapon sites and authorizes the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to investigate Iraq's nuclear weapons capabilities. The resolution also re-imposes sanctions, linking their removal to Iraq's compliance with disarmament.

Resolution 706 — August 15, 1991
"Concerned by the serious nutritional and health situation" of the Iraqi people, the Security Council allows countries to buy oil (not to exceed $1.6 billion) from Iraq. Iraq is ordered to use the money to pay for humanitarian supplies, inspections and reparations to Kuwait.

Resolution 707 — August 15, 1991
This resolution condemned Iraq's violation of resolution 687 (unconditional destruction of all weapons of mass destruction). It demanded that Iraq comply by granting UNSCOM and IAEA inspectors unconditional and unrestricted access to all areas.

Resolution 986 — April 14, 1995
As a temporary measure to help stem a growing humanitarian crisis in Iraq, the Security Council authorized countries to buy oil from Iraq in exchange for food and humanitarian supplies. This "oil-for-food" program was previously considered in resolution 706, but did not take effect until 1996. The new resolution allowed Iraq to immediately conduct $1 billion in oil sales every 90 days.

Resolution 1051 — March 27, 1996
Determining that Iraq's imports and exports should be monitored by the UNSCOM and IAEA, the Security Council establishes an import/export monitoring system to ensure that "dual use" materials -- items that could be used to make weapons -- are duly inspected by the special commission.

Resolution 1154 — March 2, 1998
The resolution expressed support of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, who traveled to Baghdad to secure Iraq's commitment to allow weapons inspectors into all areas, including "presidential sites."

Resolution 1194 — September 9, 1998
The Security Council echoed its past condemnations and demands that Iraq comply with inspectors. It also suspends the bi-monthly sanctions reviews provided for in resolution 687, until Iraq fully complied.

Resolution 1284 — December 17, 1999
After the collapse of Iraqi cooperation with U.N. weapons inspectors, UNSCOM leaves Baghdad in Oct. 1998. More than a year later, the Security Council established the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) to replace UNSCOM. The resolution also orders Iraq to allow UNMOVIC unconditional and unrestricted access to all sites. The resolution also broadened the oil-for-food program, allowing Iraq to sell any amount of petroleum products for food and medical supplies; it also called on Iraq to hasten humanitarian assistance to those in need.

Resolution 1409 — May 14, 2002
This resolution adopted a "Goods Review List" (GRL) which further adjusts the oil-for-food program. The GRL outlines the "dual-use" goods that UNMOVIC and the U.N. Office of the Iraq Program must inspect.