Embargo against Iran

Reimposition and expansion, 1984-1996

During the Iran-Iraq War, which began in September 1980, the United States in 1984 prohibited weapon sales and all US assistance to Iran. In September 1987, following the discovery of a possible minefield in the Strait of Hormuz, Secretary of DefenseCaspar Weinberger called for a UN arms embargo against Iran, though this was not realised at the time. US sanctions were reimposed in 1987 in response to Iranian military actions in the Persian Gulf and Iranian support for terrorism.