“The [First Gulf] war ended with a cease-fire, which was confirmed by [UN] Security Council Resolution 687, adopted on April 3, 1991. The resolution established an inspection regime under which Iraq was to declare all its holdings of weapons of mass destruction as well as facilities and programs for their manufacture. The declarations were to be verified by the newly created UN Special Commission (UNSCOM) in the spheres of biological and chemical weapons and long-range missiles, while the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] would be responsible for the nuclear sphere. Iraq was given a strong incentive to cooperate: No state would be allowed to import oil from Iraq until the Security Council, upon the reports of the inspectors, had concluded that all prohibited items and programs were eradicated.”
– Hans Blix, Disarming Iraq, Page 20