Iran Iraq War Causes

Dispute over the Shat-Al-Arab Narrow waterway formed by the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers 120 miles long

History of the Dispute 1847: Treaty of Erzerum: gave sovereignty of the water way to the Ottomans. 1932: Britain gives all of the water to the new state Iraq. Disputed by Iran 1937 Agreement: Unimpeded Iranian access to the water way 1969: Iran unilaterally annuls the 1937 agreement. –Begins support of Kurdish separatist movements 1975 Algiers Agreement –Mid-point of the waterway will serve as the dividing line between the two states –Iran and US will stop supporting the Kurdish uprising

Dispute over the Shat-Al-Arab –Only outlet for Iraq/ important Iranian port of Khorramshahr –Part of the Khuzistan province which is the major oil producing area for Iran (Arabic speaking) –1975 Algiers Agreement Torn up by Hussein 5 days before invasion

Iranian Revolution Anxieties about the impact of the Khomeini regime on the Shiite population in Iraq and the Islamic community in general –Majority population in Iraq are Shiite –Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Baqr al Sadr inspirational leader –July 1979 riots broke out in An Najaf and in Karbala –Ad Dawah al Islamiyah (the Islamic Call) –Assassination attempts (Iraqi foreign minister Tariq Aziz). –Executions of Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Baqr al Sadr Populist government Exportation of the revolution –call for the overthrow of corrupt secular Islamic states –Monarchy system “unIslamic” “Western”

Opportunism Iran’s military destabilized by revolution Unclear leadership - Assembly of Experts (split between moderates/Parliamentarians (Freedom Movement) and the Council of the Islamic Republic, 12 member Council of Guardians and the “Hidden Iman” Purging of military officials and creation of the Revolutionary Guard Iraq large military of 190,000 men, with 2,200 tanks and 450 aircrafts – Soviet supplied

Consolidation of Power Both leaders recently in power Khomeini Feb 1979 Hussein purging of the Baath Party July 1979

Consolidation of Power Iran challenges from moderates and the radical Islamic socialist In process of writing and modifying the constitution Bani-Sader elected as first President (committed to concept of a secular government Tensions with the United States over Embassy hostage crisis and attempted rescue

Impact of foreign governments

Other Gulf States –Fear over the spread of Khomeini revolutions –Riots in Bahrain, –Bombings in Kuwait –Violent seize of Grand Mosque in Mecca: November 20 - December 4, 1979 US Anti US rhetoric and hostage crisis in Iran Loss of major ally in Iran – double ally policy in the Middle East