Iran – Iraq War(1980 – 1988)

Causes & Consequences

In 1980 Saddam Hussein decided to invade Iran. Why?

Religion

• Iran was governed by Muslimclerics (theocracy). By contrast, Iraq was a secular state.

• The Iranian leader, AyatollahKhomeini, had called on Irakisto rise and overthrow Saddam Hussein.

• Saddam and his allies wereSunni, while the majority of Iraq’s population were Shia –like the Iranians. MARCH 22, 1985| CREDIT: MICHAEL COYNE

Young soldiers pray while they prepare for combat with Iraq. Near Ahvaz, Iran.

SOURCE ANALYSIS: Importance of religion in Iran – Iraq War

(booklet p. 17)

Territory

• Saddam wished control of the Shatt al-Arab waterway

• Saddam aimed to seize oil-rich SW Iran (Khuzestan)

Politics

• Saddam had evidence that Iran was involved in the assassination of leading members of the Baathist party.

• He feared they were plotting to overthrow him.

Iran was weak after the Shah’s fall

• Economy in chaos

• Western trade boycott because of the capture of the US Embassy

• Iranian armed forces recently purged by the Revolution

• End of Iran – USA alliance ended American supply of parts for tanksand artillery

Domination of the Gulf

• Saddam hoped that with the annexation of Khuzestan and renewed control of the Shattal-Arab, Iraq’s oil reserves could be expanded at the expense of Iran signalling a shift in the balance of power.

• He hoped to make Iraq the leader of the Arab worldfollowing Egypt’s expulsionfrom the Arab League in 1979 as a result of their peace accords with Israel.

Stalemate

(p.16)

Iran offered little resistance when Iraq invaded in September 1980 but withina month they were halted in the desert.

Iraq then started the “War of the Cities”.

Iraq had superior fire power but Iran, sent in hundreds of thousands of new recruits.

Many of them were willing to be martyrs.

Most Iranians believed they werefighting for good against evil.

MAY 01, 1988| CREDIT: THOMAS HARTWELLEquipment littering the Iran-Iraq war front near the border of the two countries.

Photo: Kaveh Golestan

Within two years, Iran had recapturedall of its land and had cut off Iraq fromits only sea ports.

There were calls for ceasefire but Iransaid that it would not stop untiloverthrowing Saddam.

When Iran stated that its target wasBaghdad, the Iraqi capital, the Iraqiforces became more determined.

By 1984, the two sides were boggeddown in trench warfare along the

1600 km border.

Foreign involvement

Iran's Revolutionary Guards prepare to burn an American flag on the al-Fao Peninsula after it was recaptured by Iranian forces from the Iraqi

army during the Iran-Iraq War, 15th February 1986.

Support for Iraq• Most of the Arab states: Saudi

Arabia and other rich oil-states, Egypt and Jordan provided $ and arms – Jordan also provided a route.

• France, Germany, USSR and USA: USA used satellite tech to keepIraq informed of Iranian troopmovements, and also providedequipment used to makechemical weapons

• 1984 “War of the Tankers” USA became even more involved

Support for Iran

• Syria

From 1986 fighting was focused on the Gulf.

• Iraqi air force controlled the skies but the Iraniannavy was much stronger.

• Iran began to attack Kuwaiti ships in retaliation so the USSR offered to help Kuwait.

• USA hurried to protect Kuwaiti ships (2 reasons)

• When the Iranians cut off Iraq’s access to the Gulfthrough Shatt al-Arab, the US provided protection forIraqi ships and destroyed much of the Iranian navy.

Ceasefire – July, 1988

• There was no peace treaty, only a truce, and both sides continued to re-arm.

• No one knows the exact casualties. Estimates: 1 million Iranians and ½ million Iraqis

• “War of the Cities” had killed many civilians

• In both cases, national feelings had beenstronger than ethnic feelings and minoritiesdid not rise to help invaders.

Consequences

Both Saddam and Khomeini remained in power. There was no change in the borders

The Western powers soon aligned against Saddam in the First Gulf War.

Consequences

For Iraq• Economy and society suffered

extensive damage• Debts of $80 billion but still

Saddam kept a million men in arms and developed Iraq’s army.

• The value of oil had fallen. Manylost their jobs – and added to demobilised soldiers thisincreased unemployment.

• Riots and strikes. Someopposition coordinated in the mosques.

• Main opposition came from the army.

For Iran

• Khomeini disliked the ceasefire. He died a yearlater.

• The Islamic Republiccontinued to attract widesupport in Iran.

• It was still a major power.

• It had not succeeded in exporting its Shiite brand of Islam

Yet …

Saddam claimed the war had been a great victory for Iraq.

He had halted the spread of the Islamic Revolution and preventedKhomeini from toppling his regime.

Soon, Saddam would start another war.