Resolution 514 was the second UN Security Council resolution concerning the Iran-Iraq War, which was adopted on July 12, 1982.

From the outbreak of the war until Iran accepted Resolution 598, the Security Council issued one resolution each year. However, none of them recognized the aggressor. In these resolutions, the conflict was consistently referred to as “ the situation between Iran and Iraq”. Most Security Council resolutions maintained a merely recommendatory tone and never included any economic, maritime, or aerial sanctions against the aggressor, Iraq. This approach continued until Iranian forces achieved significant successes on the battlefield and began to push back the enemy.⁠[1]

As the course of the war shifted in Iran’ s favor, the Security Council’ s approach also changed. To halt the advance of Iranian forces and provide support to Iraq, the Council issued its second resolution. In Resolution 514, the Council reiterated its earlier position, urging both parties to implement a ceasefire and withdraw to internationally recognized borders. The resolution was a direct response to the bravery shown by Iranian fighters and intended to halt their further advances. In its preamble, the Council expressed deep concern over “ prolongation of the conflict between the two countries, resulting in heavy losses of human lives and considerable material damage and endangering peace and security”, and called for an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of forces to internationally recognized borders, to be supervised by UN peacekeeping forces and observers.⁠[2]

The text of Security Council Resolution 514 reads as follows:

“ The Security Council,
Having considered again the question entitled ‘ The situation between Iran and Iraq’,
Deeply concerned about the prolongation of the conflict between the two countries, resulting in heavy losses of human lives, considerable material damage, and endangering peace and security,
Recalling the provisions of Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations, and that the establishment of peace and security in the region requires strict adherence to these provisions,
Recalling that by virtue of Article 24 of the Charter, the Security Council has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security,
Recalling its resolution 479 (1980), adopted unanimously on September 28, 1980, as well as the statement of the President of the Security Council of November 5, 1980,
Taking note of the efforts of mediation pursued notably by the Secretary-General and his representative, as well as by the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and the Organization of the Islamic Conference,
1. Calls for a ceasefire and an immediate end to all military operations;
2. Calls further for a withdrawal of forces to internationally recognized boundaries;
3. Decides to dispatch a team of United Nations observers to verify, confirm, and supervise the ceasefire and withdrawal, and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Security Council a report on the arrangements required for that purpose;
4. Urges that the mediation efforts be continued in a coordinated manner through the Secretary-General with a view to achieving a comprehensive, just and honorable settlement, acceptable to both sides, of all the outstanding issues, on the basis of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, including respect for sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs of States;
5. Requests all other States to abstain from all actions that could contribute to the continuation of the conflict and to facilitate the implementation of the present resolution;
6. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council within three months on the implementation of the present resolution”.⁠[3]

This resolution was issued in the wake of Iran’ s successful operations: Thamen al-Aemmah (as) (September 27, 1981)⁠[4], Tariq al-Quds (November 29, 1981)⁠[5], Fath al-Mubin (March 22, 1982)⁠[6], and Beit al-Muqaddas⁠[7] (April 30, 1982).⁠[8] Iran did not accept the resolution. On July 15, 1982, the Secretary-General submitted a report to the Security Council stating that the Baath regime had accepted Resolution 514 while Iran had rejected it.⁠[9]

Iran opposed the resolution because it addressed only the return to internationally recognized borders and made no mention of exchanging prisoners of war or identifying the party responsible for starting the war. Saddam, finding himself in a position of weakness, immediately accepted the resolution and began openly calling for peace, even though the resolution left unresolved the most basic issues— such as the exchange of prisoners of war— and deferred all substantive matters to the future.⁠[10] This approach continued until 1987, when Resolution 598 was issued and, after a series of developments, ultimately accepted by both countries.