We explain how it was and why war between Iran and Iraq was triggered. In addition, who were their main leaders and what their results were.
What was the war between Iran and Iraq?
The war between Iran and Iraq was a military conflict that confronted the two countries between 1980 and 1988. The reason for the confrontation was the dispute for the control of the Chat El Arab River and the sovereignty of the islands of Abu Musa, Tumb Mayor and Tumb Minor, which were fundamental for the commercialization of the oil of both countries.
The war began with the invasion of Iran to Iran in 1980, When Saddam Hussein (President of Iraq) took advantage of Iran's political instability after the Islamic Revolution (1979). Huseín demanded the review of the border between the two countries and the return of the three islands.
The conflict soon became a “war of wear” and the positions of both armies were stagnant for several years. Given the fatigue, the change in the international political situation and the extreme expenses of the war, Iran and Iraq agreed in 1988 a stop to fire and resolved to keep the borders that existed before the beginning of the war.
The confrontation between Iran and Iraq was one of the longest, most cruel and more expensive international military conflicts in recent history. It is estimated that in its eight years the life of more than five hundred thousand people took place, which more than one million were injured and that its economic cost rose to three hundred and fifty billion dollars.
Background of the war between Iran and Iraq
The tensions between Iran and Iraq began in the 1960s, when the United Kingdom retired from the region within the framework of the process of decolonization of Asia. This led to the reconfiguration of territorial limits and the internal political instability of the different states.
During the 1970s, Iraq was governed by the dictatorial regime of the Baaz party and, among its main leaders, Saddam Hussein was. Iraqi power groups that opposed the government were supported by Iran. Faced with a series of internal problems, Huseín negotiated with Iran the cessation of Iranian assistance to the opposition against his government.
In 1975, Iran and Iraq signed Algiers agreements. Iran promised to stop attending the Kurdish groups politically and economically that rebelled against the Baazist regime in Iraq. In return, Iraq granted control of 500 km Iraq2 of land on the east coast of the Chat Al Arab river, a territory of great geopolitical importance because it links the Tigris and Euphrates rivers with the Persian Gulf (fundamental step for oil trade towards Western countries).
A few years later, the Islamic revolution of Iran of 1979 overthrew the previous monarchical regime and established a new government, led by Ayatollah (religious authority) Rulhahh Jomeiní. This new leader preached a Chiita radical Islamism (which believes that religious law must guide state and social actions), contrary to the Baazist ideology that Iraq ruled (which argues that religion should not intervene in state affairs). On the other hand, although the Baazista government was secular, half of the Muslim Iraqi society was of a Shiite orientation (the same Muslim branch as Jomeini).
In this context, Saddam Hussein thought that Khomeiní wanted to expand the Islamic revolution and feared that Iraq was considered the ideal place for that. For several years, Jomeiní had lived as an exile in Iraq for his political activity against the Iranian government and had established connections with Shiite Islamist groups.
In turn, Huseín considered that, in case of attacking Iran, the attack should be done as soon as possible since the Jomeini regime was still weak, he had not developed strong ties with other nations and was recovering from the revolutionary process. He then sought the support of the countries governed by Sunni regimes (Muslims contrary to the Shiites) and their main ally, the Soviet Union.
Development of war between Iran and Iraq
The Iraqi invasion began in September 1980, managed to take the city of Jorramchar and advance almost 100 kilometers within Iranian territory before facing resistance. The Iraqi army had better technology, he was more trained and his forte were air attacks.
However, Iran's militias managed to stop the IraqYo And, the following year, make him go back to the Karun River. In 1982, Iran recovered Jorramchar and, between 1984 and 1986, advanced on the Iraqi territory. From now on, the war became a “war of wear” war in which the positions of both armies were stagnant.
To break the enemy, Huseín went to war methods condemned by international law, such as the use of chemical weapons. This led to a strong fall in his image and little by little his international allies began to withdraw their political, economic and military support.
Finally, after the economic, political and social wear of the long war, Iran and Iraq agreed to negotiate and agreed to ceasefire.
War results between Iran and Iraq
The war between Iran and Iraq ended on August 20, 1988. Both countries agreed to withdraw their troops and return to the borders established in the Algiers agreement of 1975. As a consequence of the military confrontation, it is estimated that five hundred thousand combatants died and more than one million were injured.
The result of the war maintained the previous borders and did not mean a territorial or economic gain for either of the two countries. However, it helped to consolidate the power of each of the dictatorial regimes that had been installed in Iran and Iraq.
With the excuse of the war against the external enemy, both Saddam Hussein in Iraq as Ruhollah Jomeiní in Iran strengthened their armies and legitimized violence against his enemies of the opposition within his country.
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References
- Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia (2023). “Iran-Airaq War”. Britannica Encyclopedia https://www.britannica.com/
- Palmowski, J. (2000). “Iran-Airaq War”. To Dictionary of Twentieth-Century World History. Oxford University Press.
- Van Dijk, R., Gray, WG, Savranskaya, S., Suri, J., & Zhai, Q. (eds.). (2013). “Iran-Airaq War.” Encyclopedia of the Cold War. Routledge.
