Transcript Document 7296019

Causes
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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?
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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Claims to sovereignty over Bahrain were
renewed
(Encouraged) entire population of the Gulf
states in general, to stage "Iranian-style"
Islamic revolutions
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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”
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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
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70,000 Iraqis of (questionable) Iranian origin
were forceable expelled in 1971
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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
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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”
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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.
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1980 - Iran was supporting Shi'i elements in
Iraq and encouraging them to stage a takeover of politics; and Iraq was supporting
ethnic unrest in Khozestan and Baluchistan,
in addition to Kurdistan
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Discuss how a causation link could be made
between the ethnic issues and the start of war
between Iraq and Iran
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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
• Iraq's
longest
border is
with Iran.
•Narrow
waterway
formed by
the
confluence
of the
Tigris and
Euphrates
rivers
•120 miles
long
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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)
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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.
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1975 Algiers Agreement
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http://www.francona.com/commentaries/shatt.html
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◦ Begins support of Kurdish separatist movements
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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
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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
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Dispute lead to series of minor military
exchanges along border that were increasing
in intensity.
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How could a territorial dispute cause a
conflict when there was a diplomatic
agreement four years earlier?
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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
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“The Iranian Revolution revived an interIslamic rivalry that had been dormant for
centuries between Sunni and Shi'i elements”
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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)
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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-byside with other considerations
Hussein: “Khomeini is a mad mullah seeking
personal power and to return Iran to the 'dark
ages'."
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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
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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
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”
Iran’s military destabilized by revolution
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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
Iranian economy was in a shambles
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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
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Anticipated support of ethnic minorities
war with limited military objectives – goal of
destablizing and toppling Iranian government
while still keeping ease of supply lines
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“Iraq's leaders chose an excellent moment to
attack Iran. “
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Both leaders recently in power
Khomeini Feb 1979
Hussein purging of the Baath Party July
1979
Iran
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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
US
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Anti US rhetoric and hostage crisis in Iran
Loss of major ally in Iran – double ally policy in the
Middle East
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Iran: The beginning of the war as September
22, 1980, the day the Iraqi forces crossed the
Iranian borders by land, sea and air
Iraq: September 4, 1980, when the Iranians
pounded several civilian, economic and
military targets in the Shatt al-Arab area
◦ Iran had placed its military forces on high military
alert (April – following assiassination attempt and A;
Sadr’s execution)
◦ “preemptive action in self-defense”
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Using your understanding of Iran and Iraq
hegemony , Explain the following historical
conclusion: During the 1970’s Ba'ath and
Khomeini had a marriage of convenience
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THE IRAN-IRAQ WAR:
CAUSES AND ORIGINS OF THE WAR
by: Ahmed H. El-Afandi
http://course1.winona.edu/aelafandi/polsci
270/iran-iraq-war.htm