CNN - Iran-to-Bosnia arms shipments

U.S. gave tacit approval for Iran-to-Bosnia arms shipments

April 5, 1996
Web posted at: 12:30 p.m. EST(1730 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Clinton administration gave tacit approval for arms shipments from Iran to the Bosnian army, despite a United Nations embargo against sending weapons into the region.

Shipments of small arms, mortars and other light weapons were flown into Croatia in 1994 for the Bosnians, also violating the U.S. administration's official policy of isolating Iran because of that country's alleged support of terrorist activities.

A senior administration official told the Los Angeles Times that President Clinton participated in the early 1994 decision to inform Croatian President Franjo Tudjman that the U.S. would not block an Iran-to-Bosnia arms pipeline.

Arms shipments also came from at least two other countries -- Turkey and Malaysia -- but the United States did not object.

"The United States has always maintained that it upheld the letter of the law and the requirements of the U.N. Security Council resolution," said White House Press Secretary Mike McCurry.

A White House official told CNN that "the U.N. resolution did not call for an air embargo," adding that the U.S. and its allies did stop arms shipments coming by sea.

"I do not support that arms embargo and I never have," President Clinton said during a speech in May 1994. "We worked with all our allies and tried to persuade all of them that we should end it."

The U.S. ended its official participation in the embargo in November 1994 under pressure from Congress.

Feedback

Send us your comments.
Selected responses are posted daily.

U.S. gave tacit approval for Iran-to-Bosnia arms shipments

Feedback

| CONTENTS | SEARCH | CNN HOME PAGE | MAIN WORLD NEWS PAGE |