America's Foreign Policy Practice Ecam

The main purpose of the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) was to oversee the implementation of disarmament in Iraq following the Gulf War. Specifically, this included verifying Iraq's compliance with the terms of the ceasefire agreement, particularly concerning its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs. UNSCOM was established to ensure that Iraq destroyed its chemical and biological weapons and ceased its ballistic missile production. The commission conducted inspections, gathered evidence, and reported its findings to the UN Security Council, making its role crucial in maintaining international peace and security after the conflict.

The other options address different functions unrelated to the focus of UNSCOM. Trade agreements, cultural exchanges, and tourism do not fall under UNSCOM's mandate, which was solely centered on weapons compliance and disarmament verification. Hence, the verification of weapons compliance and overseeing ceasefire terms is the defining purpose of UNSCOM.