gulf matters.

by anshul yemul.
Background.

● Iraq’s land and air invasion of western Iran started an 8 year war.
● Caused due to long standing disputes and immediate considerations.
● Saddam was the aggressor, however it could be argued he wanted to destroy
Khomeini before Khomeini destroyed Saddam.
● Hence it was just a pre-emptive strike.
Causes of the Iran-Iraq War, 1990-8

● Territorial disputes- shared a 1,400 km border, which was the cause to most of their
problems. (Shatt al-Arab waterway, Khuzestan, Algiers Agreement)
● Domination of the Gulf - The war can be considered as a contest for power and
dominance in the Middle East between the Persians and Arabs.
1. Iran (persians) and Iraq (arabs)
2. Saddam believed the annexation of Khuzestan, and control of Shatt al-Arab along
with Iraq’s oil reserves, would shift the balance of power from iran to iraq.
3. This would help make iraq the leader of the arab world.
Causes of the Iran-Iraq War, 1990-8 (cont.)
● Opportunity which was provided due to the islamic revolution -
1. Iran was clearly more powerful than Iraq due to results from their disputes, however the
islamic revolution in 1979 internally weakened the country and Saddam saw this as an
opportunity.
2. The revolution overthrew Shah and this lead to the ending of the alliance with the US,
and the Iranian army was deprived of USA’s resources.
3. The revolution lead to political instability, diplomatic isolation and military
disintegration. And this gave Saddam the perfect opportunity.
● Khomeini’s opposition to Saddam
1. Had an intense rivalry due to a difference in their religious composition, Iran was
governed by Shiite Muslims, Iran was a secular state governed by Sunni Muslims.
2. Khomeini convinced Iraqi Shiite’s to establish another Islamic republic and overthrow
the government, this made it clear for saddam that khomeini was trying to undermine his
government.
Causes of the Iran-Iraq War, 1990-8 (Cont.)

● Western involvement
1. Wanted to preserve peace in the middle east and make sure there was continuous
export of oil.
2. However they did not want Iran to win as this would mean the establishment of an
Islamic government.
3. An inslamic government would threaten the rest of the states in the middle east an
cause instability and volatility in the region
4. Hence the west's only goal was to make sure Iraq won.
5. West supplied arms and military equipment
6. Hence, by the end of the war Iraq had a significant advantage.
Territorial disputes.
● Shatt al-arab waterway
1. Connects the iraqi and iranian cities to the persian gulf. (would help with oil exports)
2. Especially important to iraq as it was their only outlet
3. Arguments happened due to navigation rights and the location of the border
4. In 1937 a treaty was signed in favour of Iraq
5. In 1969 the Shah of Iran rejected the treaty and refused to pay the iraqis and shipping
tolls.
● Khuzestan
1. Oil rich iranian province with majority of its citizens being Arabs
2. Saddam claimed historical rights for the province
3. In revolt the Shah encouraged the Kurds in north iraq to go against saddam's regime.
Territorial disputes. (cont.)

● Algiers agreement.
1. Saddam realised war with the Iranians in the early 1970’s would not be preferable as
they were too strong.
2. hence , the algiers agreement was drawn up
3. Iran ended support for kurds in the north
4. Iraq dropped claims for khuzestan
5. Concluded border between iraq and iraq along the Shatt al-arab waterway should
follow a deep water line compared to a low water mark
6. Set saddam back and renounced the agreement pre invading iran in 1980.
Consequences of the Iran-Iraq War, 1990-8

● Brought destabilisation to the region and devastation to the participants.

● No winner
● Neither side achieved their war aims
● No change in iran-iraq border
● No long term diplomatic change
● Iran’s death toll was - 50 million, iraq’s death toll was 17 million
● Iraq went from one of the richest countries in the world to a bankrupt state, owed
over $80 billion.
● Iran incurred smaller foreign debt, oil revenue was halved and living standards
plummeted.
● However, saddam claimed iraq won as the spread of islamic revolution was stopped
and saddam’s regime was not toppled.
Why did the First Gulf War take place?

● Background
1. 2 august 1990 Saddam ordered the invasion of Kuwait.
2. Iraqi forces crushed kuwaiti army and took control of principality.
3. Ruler of Kuwait abdicated to Saudi Arabia.
4. Iraq was condemned in the Arab league and UN imposed economic sanctions.
5. Saudi Arabia being the next target appealed for the west help.
6. Saddam had the entire International community against him, but had compelling
reasons for his actions.
● Historical claim
1. Kuwait was a part of the turkish province of Basra, but was separated after WW1 and
the British accepted responsibility for defence and foreign affairs.
2. Due to Kuwait’s links with Basra, many Iraqi rulers believed that Kuwait was theirs,
and many rulers demanded the incorporation of Kuwait into Iraq.
3. Due to the british meddling, this could not have been made possible.
4. Due to Kuwait being independent, Iraq was landlocked and it was necessary to gain
control of Kuwait.
● Saddam Hussein's position
1. After the iran-iraq war it was not convincing that iraq had won
2. Iraq showed many qualities of a defeated country
3. The public wasn’t really in favour of Saddam and there were many assasination
attempts
4. Hence to preserve his rule, saddam gained the public's support by liberating Kuwait
and regaining what was rightfully theirs.
5. This restored the public's faith in Saddam.
● Financial and Economic Factors
1. Iraq’s economy was crumbling , shortage of money and $40 billion in outstanding
loans from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia
2. Iraq requested the 2 to write of the loans, because he managed to stop the islamic
revolution,
3. Also demanded $30 billion in new loans, also annoyed both countries increased oil
production and decreased the price of oil.
4. Saddam also claimed Kuwaitis were looting oil from Iraq from the oil reserve near
their border.
5. Saddam accused both countries of waging an economic war and threatened them of
dire consequences if they were not able to resolve the matter.
● Establish regional leadership
1. Iran-iraq war was an attempt to establish iraq as the leader of the middle east
2. However when this failed, saddam saw kuwait as a renewed attempt to establish iraq
as the leader of the middle east, invading kuwait would also make it easier to invade
saudi arabia due to geographical advantages.
● Expected american reaction
1. Invasion on kuwait led to international and arab protests
2. Saddam wanted to make sure US would remain neutral against any move saddam
would make
3. Saddam summoned american ambassador to find out the american administrations,
intentions if he were to invade Kuwait.
4. The ambassador made it very clear that this matter would not be a key concern to the
US
5. And this gave Saddam confidence.
Main events of the First Gulf War

● Operation Desert Shield - (7 august 1990 - 17 january 1991)

1. After invasion of Kuwait in 1990 there was no fighting for over 5 months.
2. During this period there was a build up of american,french and british troops in saudi
arabia.
3. UN demanded Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait, imposed economic sanctions and set a
deadline for military sanctions.
● Operation Desert Storm- (17 January-28 Feb 1991)
1. Air war 17 jan to 23 feb 1991 - coalition planes and helicopters attacked iraqi
military targets in kuwait and iraq itself.
2. Ground war 24-28 feb 1991 - coalition forces invade Iraq and Kuwait forcing
Saddam to withdraw iraqi troops from kuwait.
Consequences of the First Gulf War
● Saddam suffered a massive and humiliating military defeat.
● Iraq's economic infrastructure crumbled.
● Saddam survived the devastation and took immediate action to strengthen his regime.
Crushed revolts
● Significant losses and civilian fatalities
● Food, clean water and medical supply shortage
● Reduced welfare services
● Iraq could not sell oil abroad due to sanctions.
● America created no fly zones in the middle east to prevent saddam from repeating
this. America looked to topple saddam.
● Stage was set incase saddam decided to repeat his actions again.
● Saddam lost trust in international community
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