How Far Do You Agree That The Iranian Revolution Accounts For Both The Outbreak And The

Length Of The Iran Iraq War? The Iran-Iraq War of 1980 latest for eight years, and has become known as one of the most damaging conflicts of the 20th century, and devastating being that over a million and a half lives were lost and no territorial gains made. There are many reasons as to why Iraq under leadership of Saddam Hussein decided to invade Iran in 1980. One of the most significant causes of the Iran Iraq war was the cultural and religious differences and conflicts this created between the two countries. The area that encompasses Iraq and Iran had not been historically defined, Iraq would be the inheritor of the Babylonian Empire whereas Iran is the inheritor of the Persian Empire; as such Iraqis would identify themselves as Arabs and speak as such, whereas Iranians would be strictly Persian, and the national dialect would reflect that. Furthermore, the religious differences are also of considerable importance. The Iraqi government is of the Sunni sect whilst that of Iran is Shia. Furthermore, the two governments based their ideologies on different factors, Iraqs leading Baath party being secular and westernising whilst Irans revolutionist government was strictly fundamentalist, basing many laws on the Koran itself (Iran had also ceased any connection to the west, be it in music or governance). Therefore, with such opposing views and contrasting conductivity much conflict arose between the two nations. Whats more, Iraq though largely Shia (estimates include 65% of Iraqs population) was ruled by a government largely Sunni in denomination (such is a justification if not direct cause of the purposefully secular government). Hence Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi government were likely to be very suspicious of the influence that Iran and its revolutionist government would have over the population of the country. The religious and cultural differences also help to justify a territorial claim by Iraq on the Khuzestan Province, which was Arak speaking and also Shia; hence Saddam Hussein could reasonably argue this territory belonged to Iraq, and that he wanted to liberate the peoples of Khuzestan province form the clutches of the revolutionist regime. As such, Saddam Hussein would have been greatly fearful of the Iranians and the threat they provided against Iraqs stability as both a nation and the control its own government had; this would have been heightened by Irans newly victorious revolution which ousted the Shah and his westernising views. The revolutionist regime in Iran had also angered Saddam Hussein in other ways, such as supporting Kurdish revolts in the north of Iraq. Moreover there had been evidence of Irans involvement in the assignation of leading Baath party members ( the ruling party of Iraq). Furthermore, following the collapse of the Shahs regime in Iran, the economy and organisation of the country was in chaos; and in direct consequence of Komenmi (Revolutionist leader of Iran) views on western ideologies and products- was facing a boycott of trade by western powers; provided Saddam Hussein with

the best time of attack now that Iran was at a disadvantage, and Iraq had potential support of Western powers. The new revolutionist governmentof Iran, also heped strengthen the Iraqi invasion by alienating western powers, and such securing their assistance for Iraq ( The soviet union and france becoming unlikely allies in supply arms to Iraq). Also the Americans and British were fearful of allowing a greater extent of the Gulf State oil to come under control of the revolutionary regime in Iran. Another factor for conflict between the two nations would arise from continual territorial disputes. More specifically that of the Shatt el Arab waterway, the body of water to which both Iraq and Iran had borders with in the south. Moreover, Iraqs access to the sea was very narrow, while Iran enjoyed a very long coastline. Iraq therefore had desire to make territorial advances and also gain control of the Shatt el Arab waterway, which would have been highly beneficial to Iraq both in military stability and also with regard to trade. Another trade related factor, would be the importance of oil and the effect this had on stirring up conflict between the two nations, and leading to Iraqs invasion of Iran. Oil had long been the source of income for Gulf States, and Saddam Hussein was very conscious of boosting the wealth of Iraq by gaining control of the oil rich southern region of Iran. As thus to conclude the main reasons why Saddam Huseein decided to invade Iran in 1980 were: due to the threat of Revolutionists Government in Iran (over Shia majority in Iraq), historical territorial disputes (Province of Kuzestan and the Shatt el Arab waterway), the actions of Irans revolutionist government against the Iraqi government (supporting Kurdish Revolts, and role in the assignation of Baath party members), the added benefit of securing more oil and also the calculation of Iranian military and organisational weakness ( following the Iranian Revolution) and the support of western powers (owing to their opposition to the regime in Iran). Furthermore, one can say that the most important reason as to the cause of the Iran Iraq war was in fact the Iranion Revolution. This is said because it had further deepened the religious and cultural differences and disputes with Iraq, as well as threatening the stability of Iraq. The treat it posed on the shia majority, supporting the Kurdish Revolts and assignation leading Iraqi officials. Whats more, it is because of the Iranian revolution that Iran was significantly weaker both economically and militarily, thus allowing Saddam Hussein the upper hand in any conflict. Furthermore, Husseins upper hand was further strengthend by the support of western powers, Franc Britain, USA and even the Soviet Union; all of which again was a direct consequence of the Iriaian Revolution. The other causes of the Iran Iraq war, such as the Shatt el Arab waterway and gaining control of more oil; were though not directly a consequence of the Iranian revolution and more of an added advantage of any invasion, linked to the Iran revolution in that it helped heightened the case of the Iraqis in dispute with Iran. Furthermore as previously stated the undermined position of Iran at this time following the revolution,

provided Saddam Hussein with the upper hand in any conflict. And as such, though at face value the other causes of the Iran Iraq war, were less important than that of the threat the Iranian revolution created; they were linked to and further exaggerated by the Iranian revolution. As such one can once again reasonably state that the Iranian Revolution accounted for the outbreak of the Iran Iraq war, be it directly or indirectly. Furthermore, it can also be argued that the Iranian Revolution accounted for the length of the Iran Iraq war. One reason why this is the case is because, though against the original calculation of Saddam Hussein the Iran Iraq war was not a whirlwind war that toppled the Revolutionist Regime in Iran. The cause for this was, despite religious similarities between the invading forces and the occupants of the Khuzestan Province; there was a stronger unity under nationalist pride than that of religious sect. Hence the Iranian revolution had united all Iranians together, even against people whom historically would have found greater unity ( the shia invading forces being of the same Islamic sect of the residents of Kuzestan Province). Faced with this unfortunate development, Iraq had to resort to firing missiles into cites, the so called war of cities; creating much damage to Irans infrastructure and also killing many many civilians. This war of the cities had been of consequence of the Iranian revolution, but also helped to strengthen the unity of the Iranian people in opposition to the Iraqi forces and strengthen the very doctrine on which the irian regime stood. Whats more neither side could now win a decisive victory, this is because each nation had a regime fiercely opposed to the other, and any calls for ceasefire came to nothing because neither would settle for peace; only for the toppling of the others government. As such again we see were the Iranian revolution was to account for the continuation and length of the Iran Iraq war. Whats more, another very important factor as to why the war continued for so long would be the foreign support the Iraqis received, namely in terms of providing arms to sustain such a conflict. Again this can be related back the Iranian revolution, which was the only reason eh western powers were untied with Iraq against Iran, for fears over monopolistic control of oil and the damage this would have on western economies. As such it is sensible and reasonable to conclude that the Iranian revolution accounted both for the outbreak and length of the Iran Iraq war, in that the revolution gave real security threat to Iraq and to the western world, and also because it help unify forces together on opposing sides with a nationalistic fever (strong enough to overcome religious unity cross forces) and also because once again it secured foreign support in the war on Iraqs behalf thus leading to the sustaining of conflict which otherwise might not have been achieved.