Iraq established diplomatic relations with the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1958.

[3] Yugoslav foreign policy, with its prominent role in the Non-Aligned Movement, perceived Iran–Iraq War to be highly delicate issue due to conflicting national and multilateral interests and values.

Yugoslav Federal Secretary of Foreign Affairs became unusually silent on the issue as it was clear to Belgrade that Iraq was the aggressor but due to pressure from the Yugoslav People's Army circles was not ready to condemn Saddam Hussein.

[4] Yugoslavia also sent engineers to Iraq during the 1980s to construct numerous bunkers for the Iraqi regime which would be used during the Gulf War.

[5] Yugoslavia developed significant economic cooperation with Mediterranean and other Arab Non-Aligned countries including Iraq.