iran iraq war (1)
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Who started the Iran-Iraq war? What were the causes of the Iran-Iraq War? How long did it last? What were the Foreign influence in the war? How many died?
What do you know?
Iraq's foreign minister, Sa'adoun Hammadi, (1981) "The problem is neither new nor simple. It goes back over 460 years of history.”
traditional rivalry - both powers attempting to impose their hegemony on the Gulf region
Historical Rivalry
Hegemony is the political, economic, ideological or cultural power exerted by a dominant group over other groups, regardless of the explicit consent of the latter.
Definition
The Shah saw himself as the sole guardian of Gulf security. (1971)”I believe that the Persian Gulf must always be kept open - under Iranian protection - for the benefit of not only my country but the other Gulf countries and the world…after the British withdrawal from the Gulf, the safety and security of the area had to be guaranteed, who but Iran could fulfil this function?”
Repeated attempts to make regional military alliances with monarchy/US allied states in the Gulf
Iran Hegemony
Iranian forces took over control of the three islands at the mouth of the Gulf (Abu Mousa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs) in 1971
Iraq: Iran's massive military modernization program in the 1970s = expansionism at the expense of the Arab neighbors
Iran Hegemony
Claims to sovereignty over Bahrain were renewed
(Encouraged) entire population of the Gulf states in general, to stage "Iranian-style" Islamic revolutions
Iran Hegemony – Post Revolution
Iraq's Ba'athist ideology: Pan-Arabism resulted in Iraq’s desire for Arab leadership
Seeks to unify those Arabs within the boundaries of one Arab nation-state "from the Gulf to the Ocean
Present political boundaries as temporary and artificial and foreign inspired and imposed.
Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel in 1979 – leadership vacuum in Arab world. ◦ Iraq saw an opportunity to become “undisputed
leader of the Arab world”
Iraq - Hegemony
Khuzestan – large Arab population enclave in Iran. ◦ Iraq supports secessionist movements◦ “Arabistan which is part of Iraq's soil and was
annexed to Iran during foreign rule”◦ Renaming Iran cities with Arabic names and
inclusion of province in Iraqi maps (Nasiriyyah)◦ Iraqi agents and radio activitly calling for revolt◦ Most oil rich province in Iran
Ethic issues –Khuzestan
70,000 Iraqis of (questionable) Iranian origin were forceable expelled in 1971
Ethic issues –Khuzestan
Pre-World War 1 – Desire for independent state
After World War 1, Kurds found themselves divided between five countries (Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey and the Soviet Union)
Kurdish nationalist goal = sovereignty and political integrity of the regional states would be undermined
Iraq is the most vulnerable and volatile since the Kurds constitute a full 20% of the population, a much higher percentage than in any of the other states
Ethnic issues - Kurds
Result - guerilla warfare and rebellion have broken out since the 1920s in Iraq
Iraqi Kurdistan - main source of oil revenue◦ “ to give up the region was considered
tantamount to committing economic suicide” The Shah's Iran actively supported the
Kurdish rebellion ◦ financially, ◦ politically – appealed to international community, ◦ Militarily – base of operation, military training, and
supplied with arms, ammunitions and logistics.
Ethnic issues - Kurds
1980 - Iran was supporting Shi'i elements in Iraq and encouraging them to stage a take-over of politics; and Iraq was supporting ethnic unrest in Khozestan and Baluchistan, in addition to Kurdistan
Ethnic issues –Renewal of patterns 1980
Discuss how a causation link could be made between the ethnic issues and the start of war between Iraq and Iran
Discussion
Since 17th seventeenth century - subject of political confrontation and negotiations
“characteristic of the Iran-Iraq relationship is a tendency to unilaterally abrogate treaties which no longer seem to serve the interests of the stronger party.”
“Iran's politics since the 1600s have been marked by an obsession with seeking at least partial, if not full, control over the Gulf”
Iran repeatedly traded northern territory for more concessions along the Shatt
Border Disputes
Dispute over the Shat-Al-Arab
• Iraq's longest border is with Iran.
• Narrow waterway formed by the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
• 120 miles long
◦ 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)
Dispute over the Shat-Al-Arab
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
http://www.francona.com/commentaries/shatt.html
History of the Dispute
Mid-point of the waterway will serve as the dividing line between the two states
Iran and US will stop supporting the Kurdish uprising Iran was to compensate territorially with 400 square
kilometers in the central Ahwaz zone Commissions were established to redraw the boundary
lines◦ The work not complete when the Iranian Revolution
started Iranian leaders expressed their intentions to export
their revolution to neighboring countries Renewed fighting in Kurdish areas and revolution
support in AlDa'wa Party – Hussein viewed as violation of treaty
Agreement publically torn up by Hussein 5 days before invasion
1975 Algiers Agreement
Dispute lead to series of minor military exchanges along border that were increasing in intensity.
Dispute over the Shat-Al-Arab
How could a territorial dispute cause a conflict when there was a diplomatic agreement four years earlier?
Discussion Linking historical events to
causation
Historical disputes over the legitimacy and authenticity of theology in following the "true" religion
1420s traditional rivalry intensified and formalized politically ◦ Safawi (Safavide) dynasty established in Persia
rebelling against O.E ◦ Established Shi'ism as the state religion
“The Iranian Revolution revived an inter-Islamic rivalry that had been dormant for centuries between Sunni and Shi'i elements”
Religious tensions: Sunni-Shi’i
Concept of vilayat-e faqih – Khomeini as Imam
Iraq, Bahrain and Gulf states threat from Iranian- inspired secessionist movements among their Shi'i populations or political Islamic communities
Exportation of the revolution◦ Monarchy system “un-Islamic”
“Western”◦ Nationalism (including Arab
nationalism) is part of an imperialist conspiracy which aims at destroying the Islamic Umma (nation)
Iranian Revolution
The Ba'ath Party: secularist but not atheistic,
Arabs not all Muslims – Arab nation is a mix of different religious orientations.
Religion in its proper perspective, side-by- side with other considerations
Hussein: “Khomeini is a mad mullah seeking personal power and to return Iran to the 'dark ages'."
Religious tensions:
Iranian population 80% Shi'i and Iraqi Shi'is more than 50%
Iraqi Baath Party policy of “marginalizing and delegitimizing the Shia majority”
Ayatollah Khomeini had developed a network in Iraq during his time in exile in Iraq
Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Baqr al Sadr inspirational leader - was known to be a personal friend and a protege of Ayatollah Khomeini. J
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 – only non-Muslim Minister) followed by number of attempted assassinations of government officials
Executions of Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Baqr al Sadr
Iranian Revolution - Iraq
◦ 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
Iranian Revolution – Gulf States
Khomeini : “We are fighting to protect Islam and he [Saddam Hussein] is fighting to destroy Islam. At the moment, Islam is completely confronted by blasphemy, and you should protect and support Islam”
Discussion
Iran’s military destabilized by revolution◦ Nearly all officers with ranks above colonel
were eliminated◦ Desertion rateshigh among the regular
military personnel◦ Replaced with Revolutionary Guard◦ Iraq large military of 190,000 men, with 2,200
tanks and 450 aircrafts – Soviet supplied
Opportunism
Iranian economy was in a shambles ◦ Shortages and oil production virtually halted◦ inflation and unemployment ran high
International diplomatic cover: ◦ Radical student elements were holding Americans
hostage in their own embassy◦ International unease over “radical state” ◦ US elections, Afghanistan, Poland issues
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”
◦ Kurds and leftists openly rebelling
Opportunism
Anticipated support of ethnic minorities war with limited military objectives – goal of
destablizing and toppling Iranian government while still keeping ease of supply lines
Opportunism
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
Consolidation of Power
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