Why did events in the Gulf matter, 1970-2000? - Iran–Iraq War Flashcards
When did the war start?
September 1980
What marked the beginning of the war?
Iraq’s land and air invasion, which destabilised the region
Who was the aggressor?
Saddam Hussein
What was Saddam’s aim for starting the war?
He wanted to destroy Khomeini before Khomeini destroyed him
What were the causes of the war?
- Territorial disputes
- Domination of the Gulf
- The opportunity provided by the Islamic Revolution
- Ayatollah Khomeini’s opposition to Saddam Hussein
What did Iran and Iraq share in regards to territory?
A land border of 1,400 km
What was one area of particular dispute?
The Shatt al-Arab waterway
Why was the Shatt al-Arab important for both countries?
This waterway was important for both countries for their oil exports as it provided a link to the Persian Gulf
It was Iraq’s only outlet to the sea
What agreement was made in 1937 in regards to territory?
An agreement favourable to Iraq had been signed which placed the boundary between the two countries on the eastern bank of the river
What did the Shah do in regards to the agreement about territory made in 1937?
In 1969, he rejected the treaty and refused to pay any further shipping tolls
What province did Saddam claim the right to control?
The south-western Iranian province of Khuzestan, encouraging the Arabs who lived there to revolt against the Shah’s rule. Khuzestan was an oil-rich province
What did Iran do in retaliation to Saddam’s claim for the right to control Khuzestan?
Iran began encouraging the Kurds in the north of Iraq to take up arms equipment
When was the Algiers agreement signed?
1975
What was the Algiers agreement regarded as to Saddam?
A setback, and he was determined to regain lost ground
What was the Algiers agreement?
Under the agreement, Iran ended its support for the Kurds, and in return, Iraq dropped its claims to Khuzestan
It was also agreed that the border along the Shatt Al-Arab was to be more equitable
What did Saddam do to the Algiers agreement shortly before he invaded Iran in September 1980?
He renounced it
How did the Islamic Revolution put Iran at a disadvantage?
The revolution meant that the Shah was overthrown, which brought an end to the the alliance between the USA and Iran, depriving the Iranian army of much needed spare parts for its military
It also brought a major purge of senior officers in the Iranian army, reducing effectiveness
How did Saddam see Iran after the revolution?
He saw Iran as being politically unstable, in diplomatic isolation and with its military disintegrating
It was a unique opportunity for him
Iran was however not as weak as he anticipated
What did Khomeini regard Saddam’s regime as and why?
He regarded it with contempt, partly because of its religious composition and partly because he was expelled from Iraq in 1977
How did religion within the government differ in Iraq and Iran?
Iran was a Shiite Muslim state governed in accordance with Muslim law
Iraq was a secular state where the leading politicians were Sunni Muslims
What did Khomeini encourage the Iraqi Shiites to do and when?
In June 1979, he encouraged them to overthrow the Baath regime and establish another Islamic republic
How did the Iraqi Shiites respond to Khomeini’s encouragements?
Anti-Baath riots broke out
How did Saddam respond to Khomeini’s encouragements?
Saddam became convinced that Khomeini was deliberately trying to undermine his government
He believed that the best form of defence was attack
When did Iraq invade Iran?
22 September 1980
