1. Iran Iraq War Causes

2. Dispute over the Shat-Al-Arab • Narrow waterway formed by the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers • 120 miles long

3. History of the Dispute • 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 • Mid-point of the waterway will serve as the dividing line between the two states • Iran and US will stop supporting the Kurdish uprising • http://www.francona.com/commentaries/shatt.html

4. Dispute over the Shat-Al-Arab • 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) • 1975 Algiers Agreement • Torn up by Hussein 5 days before invasion

5. Iranian Revolution • Anxieties about the impact of the Khomeini regime on the Shiite population in Iraq and the Islamic community in general • Majority population in Iraq are Shiite • Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Baqr al Sadr inspirational leader • 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). • Executions of Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Baqr al Sadr • Populist government • Exportation of the revolution • call for the overthrow of corrupt secular Islamic states • Monarchy system “unIslamic” “Western”

6. Opportunism • Iran’s military destabilized by revolution • 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” • Purging of military officials and creation of the Revolutionary Guard • Iraq large military of 190,000 men, with 2,200 tanks and 450 aircrafts – Soviet supplied

7. Consolidation of Power • Both leaders recently in power • Khomeini Feb 1979 • Hussein purging of the Baath Party July 1979

8. 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

9. Impact of foreign governments

10. Impact of foreign governments Other Gulf States • 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 US • Anti US rhetoric and hostage crisis in Iran • Loss of major ally in Iran – double ally policy in the Middle East