Summary of: Walsh, BEN "IGCSE Modern World History" (Hodder Education - 2013) Cantrell, Smith, Smith, Ennion "20th Century History for Cambridge IGCSE" (Oxford University Press - 2013) Google Images

1. Iran – Iraq War
(1980 – 1988)
Causes & Consequences

2. In 1980 Saddam Hussein decided to invade Iran.
Why?
Religion
• Iran was governed by Muslim
clerics (theocracy). By contrast,
Iraq was a secular state.
• The Iranian leader, Ayatollah
Khomeini, had called on Irakis
to rise and overthrow Saddam
Hussein.
• Saddam and his allies were
Sunni, 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.

3. SOURCE ANALYSIS:
Importance of religion in Iran – Iraq War
(booklet p. 17)

4. Territory
• Saddam wished control of
the Shatt al-Arab waterway
• Saddam aimed to seize oil-
rich SW Iran (Khuzestan)

5. 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.

6. 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 tanks
and artillery

7. Domination of the Gulf
• Saddam hoped that with the
annexation of Khuzestan and
renewed control of the Shatt
al-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 world
following Egypt’s expulsion
from the Arab League in
1979 as a result of their
peace accords with Israel.

8. Stalemate
(p.16)
Iran offered little resistance when Iraq
invaded in September 1980 but within
a 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 were
fighting for good against evil.
MAY 01, 1988| CREDIT: THOMAS HARTWELL
Equipment littering the Iran-Iraq war front near the border of the two
countries.

9. Photo: Kaveh Golestan

10. Within two years, Iran had recaptured
all of its land and had cut off Iraq from
its only sea ports.
There were calls for ceasefire but Iran
said that it would not stop until
overthrowing Saddam.
When Iran stated that its target was
Baghdad, the Iraqi capital, the Iraqi
forces became more determined.
By 1984, the two sides were bogged
down in trench warfare along the
1600 km border.

11. 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.

12. 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 keep
Iraq informed of Iranian troop
movements, and also provided
equipment used to make
chemical weapons
• 1984 “War of the Tankers” USA
became even more involved
Support for Iran
• Syria

13. From 1986 fighting was focused on the
Gulf.
• Iraqi air force controlled the skies but the Iranian
navy 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 Gulf
through Shatt al-Arab, the US provided protection for
Iraqi ships and destroyed much of the Iranian navy.

14. 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 been
stronger than ethnic feelings and minorities
did not rise to help invaders.

15. 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.

16. 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. Many
lost their jobs – and added to
demobilised soldiers this
increased unemployment.
• Riots and strikes. Some
opposition coordinated in the
mosques.
• Main opposition came from the
army.
For Iran
• Khomeini disliked the
ceasefire. He died a year
later.
• The Islamic Republic
continued to attract wide
support in Iran.
• It was still a major power.
• It had not succeeded in
exporting its Shiite brand of
Islam

17. Yet …
Saddam claimed the war had been a
great victory for Iraq.
He had halted the spread of the
Islamic Revolution and prevented
Khomeini from toppling his regime.

18. Soon, Saddam would start another war.