The Iran-Iraq War, 1980 - 1988

What was the Iran-Iraq War?

The Iran-Iraq War was a conflict between the two countries that lasted between 1980 and 1988.

What caused the Iran-Iraq War?

After the Islamic Revolution, relations between Iran and Iraq worsened significantly for a number of reasons:

• ❖ The states of Persia (Iran) and Mesopotamia (Iraq) had been rivals since they were ancient civilisations.
• ❖ Ayatollah Khomeini was critical of Iraq's secular government and called on Shia Muslims to overthrow Saddam Hussein.
• ❖ There was evidence Iran was involved in the assassination of leading Iraqi Ba'ath Party members.
• ❖ Iraq wanted to seize total control of the Shatt al-Arab waterway which it shared with Iran, and so completely dominate access to the Persian Gulf.
• ❖ Saddam hoped to partition oil-rich Khuzestan in south-east Iran.
• ❖ Iran was in chaos following the Islamic Revolution, with a weak economy, an international trade boycott and an unhappy army.

What was the Shatt-Al-Arab Waterway in the Iran-Iraq War?

The Shatt-Al-Arab waterway is the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. It connects Basra in Iraq, and Abadan and Khorramshahr in Iran, to the Persian Gulf. The two countries were fierce rivals over whom should control it.

What were the events surrounding the Shatt-Al-Arab Waterway in the Iran-Iraq War?

There were 5 main events surrounding the the Shatt-Al-Arab Waterway.

• ❖ Iraq had little coastline and so needed access to the waterway.
• ❖ Arguments over navigation rights had existed since the 1500s.
• ❖ In 1937, a treaty was made that was favourable to Iraq and extended its boundary to the eastern low water-mark of the river.
• ❖ In 1969, the Shah rejected the treaty and refused to pay shipping rights to Iraq.
• ❖ In the Algiers Agreement of 1975, Iraq accepted a new boundary on the waterway, showing it was weaker than Iran at that point.

What started the Iran-Iraq War?

The Iran-Iraq War broke out in September 1980 when Iraqi forces invaded Iran, confident of a 'whirlwind war' that would overthrow Khomeini's regime.

What were the events of the Iran-Iraq War?

The Iran-Iraq War went through a series of stages.

• ❖ In the first stage, Iraq invaded Iran and made rapid progress before being halted in the Iranian desert. Both sides engaged in the 'War of the Cities', killing hundreds of thousands of civilians.
• ❖ After two years, Iran had recaptured its territories and cut Iraq off from the sea ports. It began an attempt to capture Iraq. Both sides became bogged down in trench warfare.
• ❖ From 1986 the fighting was focused on the Gulf itself, with each side attacking the enemy's oil installations and tankers.
• ❖ A ceasefire was finally declared in July 1988.

What were Iran's strengths in the Iran-Iraq War?

During the Iran-Iraq War, Iran had some advantages.

• ❖ The Iranian population was prepared to martyr itself for Iran's cause. This was enhanced by their revolutionary and religious enthusiasm.
• ❖ The Iranian population was bigger, and hundreds of thousands of new recruits went to fight.
• ❖ The Iranian navy was stronger than Iraq's.

What were Iraq's strengths in the Iran-Iraq War?

During the Iran-Iraq War, Iraq had some advantages.

• ❖ Iraq had the support of the USSR and western powers, who feared the dominance of an Islamic state in the Gulf.
• ❖ Iraq had better technology and more access to arms.
• ❖ Iraq had a stronger air force.
• ❖ Iraq had greater firepower.

How many people were killed in the Iran-Iraq War?

The Iran-Iraq War was costly for both sides, in terms of both money and lives.

• ❖ Iraq suffered an estimated half a million deaths from a population of 17 million.
• ❖ Iran suffered an estimated one million deaths in a population of about 50 million.
• ❖ At the end of the war, Iraq had debts of over $80 billion.
• ❖ Iran suffered extensive destruction, and Khomeini called the ceasefire 'more deadly than poison'.

What were the results of the Iran-Iraq War?

Initially, the Iran-Iraq War seemed to lead to little change.

• ❖ Saddam Hussein remained leader of Iraq.
• ❖ Ayatollah Khomeini remained a hero in Iran and twelve million Iranians lined the streets of Tehran at his funeral in 1989.
• ❖ The borders of each country remained the same.
• ❖ Iran faced bankruptcy and its oil revenues fell to about 50% of the pre-war total.
• ❖ Iraq built up debts of $80 billion.
• ❖ War damage and falling world oil prices led to falling oil profits for Iraq.
• ❖ Job losses in the oil industry and the demobilisation of soldiers led to widespread unemployment in Iraq.
• ❖ There were riots and strikes, and a number of attempts to overthrow Saddam from the military.

Which Middle Eastern countries got involved in the Iran-Iraq War?

Other Middle Eastern countries became embroiled in the Iran-Iraq War.

• ❖ Syria supported Iran because of its rivalry with Iraq. They shut Iraqi oil pipelines on their land and received free oil from Iran in return.
• ❖ The Sunni rulers of the Gulf states were afraid of the Shia Revolutionaries of Iran. Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan all supplied money and arms to Iraq.
• ❖ Jordan provided a route for Iraq's trade through the port of Aqaba while Iraq was cut off from the Gulf.

How were weapons obtained in the Iran-Iraq War?

The wider international community played an increasing role in the Iran-Iraq War.

• ❖ France, Germany, the USA and the USSR all sided with Iraq. They were afraid of the Islamic State taking control of so much oil in the Gulf and dictating oil prices.
• ❖ When the Iranians counter-attacked and threatened to invade Baghdad, the Americans became more active. They gave Iraq satellite technology and the equipment to make chemical weapons.
• ❖ When fighting occurred in the Gulf, the USSR offered to protect Kuwaiti ships. The USA stepped in with protection to reduce Soviet influence and safeguard oil supplies.
• ❖ When Iran cut Iraq off from the Shatt-Al-Arab waterway, the US provided protection for Iraqi shipping.