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Declassified report: Did Hungary supply chemical weapons to Iraq?
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A newly unearthed top-secret report from the archives reveals that Hungary intended to export chemical weapons to Iraq and Libya during the 1980s. The plan sparked serious diplomatic tensions with the United States after the CIA received information suggesting that Hungarian-made chemical agents had even been presented to Iraqi officials.
American concerns
As reported by Blikk, in the summer of 1985, the US State Department issued a stern warning to Hungary. According to the declassified document, the United States strongly objected to Hungary’s attempts to sell chemical weapons to Iraq and Libya. The US government expected immediate action from Budapest to halt the planned transactions.
During diplomatic discussions, Palmer, head of a US foreign affairs division, repeatedly raised the issue, underlining that Washington remained deeply concerned about the matter. The report states:
“Our embassy in Washington reported to the Hungarian ministry that on 16 July 1985, during a conversation covering various topics, Palmer returned to this subject. He noted that after our ambassador’s 7 June response—rejecting the claim and requesting specific evidence—he had consulted with the relevant authorities again. Based on that, it was clear that the US government remained seriously preoccupied with the proposed Hungarian export of chemical weapons to Iraq and Libya. They hoped their protest would result in the planned export being cancelled.”
Hungary denied the allegations
According to the documents, Hungarian officials denied the US accusations and requested concrete proof. Palmer responded by stating that the chemical weapons in question had indeed been demonstrated in an area close to Iraq, with the official presence of Iraqi representatives.
Although the documents do not confirm whether any shipment actually took place, Hungarian authorities appeared not to rule out the possibility. The names and quantities of the chemical substances remain undisclosed.