Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988)

The Iran-Iraq War was a prolonged conflict that lasted from 1980 to 1988. It was a war
between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Iraq.

Causes of The War:

Territorial disputes: One of the main causes of the war was a long-standing dispute over the
ownership of the Shatt al-Arab waterway, which is a river that forms the border between Iran
and Iraq. Iraq claimed that the waterway was part of its territory, while Iran argued that it was
an international waterway.

Ethnic and religious tensions: Another cause of the war was the differences between the two
countries' populations. Iraq was predominantly Arab and Sunni Muslim, while Iran was
predominantly Persian and Shi'ite Muslim. There were long-standing tensions between the
two groups, and the Iranian Revolution in 1979, which saw the establishment of an Islamic
Republic in Iran, further aggravated these tensions.

Ideological differences: The Iranian Revolution was a major factor in the outbreak of the war.
The new Iranian government, led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, was opposed to the
secular, Ba'athist government of Iraq, which was led by Saddam Hussein.

Domestic politics: Both countries were facing domestic political instability and internal
power struggles at the time of the war. Saddam Hussein saw the conflict as an opportunity to
distract from his own internal problems and rally support for his regime.

External factors: The war was also influenced by the geopolitical interests of other countries
in the region, including the United States and the Soviet Union, which provided military and
logistical support to both sides.

In summary, the causes of the Iran-Iraq War were a combination of territorial disputes, ethnic
and religious tensions, ideological differences, domestic politics, and external factors.

Impacts of Iran -Iraq War

The Iran-Iraq War, also known as the First Gulf War, lasted from 1980 to 1988 and
was a conflict between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Iraq.
The war had significant impacts on both countries, including:
 Loss of life: The war resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths, with estimates
ranging from 500,000 to over 1 million.
 Economic impact: The war was expensive for both countries, with estimates of the
total cost ranging from $500 billion to $1 trillion. The economies of both countries
suffered because of the war, with high inflation and a decline in oil exports.
 Displacement of people: The war resulted in the displacement of millions of people,
both within and outside of the countries.
 Environmental impact: The war had a significant environmental impact, including
the destruction of infrastructure, oil spills, and the use of chemical weapons, which
had long-term effects on the environment and human health.
 Political impact: The war had significant political consequences, including the
strengthening of the Islamic Republic of Iran's government and the rise of Saddam
Hussein's regime in Iraq. The war also contributed to tensions between Iran and the
United States and other Western countries.