The war came to an end in August 1988, when Iran, in compliance with international law, accepted Resolution 598 of the UN Security Council.
Iran accepted Resolution 598 on 20July 1988. On 17 July 1988, Iran notified the Secretary-General of its formal acceptance of resolution,expressing the need to save life and to establish justice.
The resolution by the world body had sought an end to aggression by former Iraqi dictator Saddam’s Baathi regime against Iran.
At this occasion, Imam said in a historic message as following:
"Concerning the acceptance of the Resolution, which is indeed a bitter and unpleasant matter for all especially for me, until a few days ago I believed in the same mode of defense and stance that was announced during the war, considering the interest of the system, the country and the revolution in its implementation. However, owing to the events and factors, which I will presently refrain from mentioning with the hope that God make them clear in the future and by taking into account the view of all the high-ranking political and military experts of the country on whose commitment, sympathy and sincerity I rely, I agreed to accept the resolution and ceasefire," Imam Khomeini said.
Imam Khomeini had repeatedly warned the international community against the crimes the Iraqi dictator was committing against the Iranian nation and the Iraqi people.
Under the wise leadership of Imam, the Iranians could defend their sovereignty, dignity and country against the aggression.
Imam’s faithful followers set great examples of patience, sacrifices and wisdom at this juncture of history.
The imposed war began in 1980, a year after the victory of Iran's Islamic Revolution, when Iraq, supported by the major powers, invaded Iran with aerial and ground incursions into Iranian territory.
Supported by regional and international powers, the Saddam regime invaded Iran via land and air in September 1980. The war that followed lasted for eight years and claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.
The Islamic Republic emerged unscathed and triumphant despite numerous attacks during the eight-year Iraqi-imposed war.
Imam’s divine conduct will be remembered for the future generations and decades to come.Imam issued several statements in favor of Iraqi, Iranians and other regional Muslim and oppressed nations and strongly denounced the dictators such as Saddam and his colonial backers.
During the war, The Islamic Republic is a victim of terrorism and chemical weapons. Dozens of civilians lost their lives and more than 8,000 people were injured in the chemical attack on the Iranian city of Sardasht on June 28, 1987 by Iraq during the rule of the executed Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein.
Sardasht was the third populated city in the world, after Japan's Hiroshima and Nagasaki, to be deliberately targeted with weapons of mass destruction. It was also the first city in the world to be attacked with poisonous gas.
The developments come as Takfiri terrorists groups are now time and again using weapons of mass destruction; however, some countries are cooperating with these terrorists instead of countering them.