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Major groups:

Iraq goverment and military: Iraq wanted to prevent the spread of the new Iranian ideology to Iraq.

Iraq's financial allies (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and other Arab states), Iraq's tactic allies (USA): The USA in its mission to stop the spread of communism in the world supported Iraq. The Arab States above felt threatened by the Iranian’s announcements of the spread of the Islamic revolution.

Iran's goverment and military, Iran's allies (Syria and Libya): protect their land and religion (Shi’i)

United Nations: The UN played a major role in defending civilians and mediated the cease of fires between the countries. Their position as always was to find an agreement between countries to reach peace.

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Saddam Hussein

President of Iraq from 1979-2003

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Ruhollah Khomeini
Leader of Iran from 1979 to 1989

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Iranian Revolution
- Iraq feared the expansion of Iran’s revolution
- Shah monarchy was removed and the conservative ayatollahs started to enforce their eastern views & ideas

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- The leader of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, mindful of Iran’s weakened military invaded Iran
- September: Iraqi forced launched strikes on Iranian air bases as a response to the invasion of the region of Khuzestan
- Iraq managed to capture the city of Khorramshahr
- Their advances were stalled at the resistance of Irani resistance
- December: Iraqi offensive had bogged down about 50-75 miles inside Iran

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-  The zeal of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps proved effect: a victory by the militia in April convinced the Iranian leadership to amplify its role in combat and promote their developement.
- Iran launched a counteroffensive
- Hussein tells Iran the USA had been giving Iraq arms
- While looking for piece agreements, Iranian leaders continued to attack as long as Iraquí troops where still in Iran soil.

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- In May, Iranian forces recaptured Khorramshahr
- Iraq voluntarily withdrew its forces from all captured Iranian territory
- They began seeking a peace agreement with Iran

- Leader Ruhollah Khomeini (Iran) saw Saddam as an obstacle to Islamic Revolution & continued war in an effort to overthrow the Iraqi leader
- In July, Iranian forces unsuccessfully invaded Iraq’s Al-Basra province

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- Khomeini, Iran’s leader threatens to cut off oil supply in the west.
- Iranians launched five major assaults along the front, none achieved substantial success.
- Iranians staged more massive “human wave” attacks.
- Operation Before the Dawn: launched Feb 6, Iranians shifted focus from the southern to the central and northern sectors.

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- Both parties were intentionally striking at civilians so the United Nations Security creates an agreement between Iran & Iraq where they agree to halt attacks on civilians
- The USA & Iraq re-established full diplomatic relations

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- Both Iran & Iraq break the treaty previously set that banned military attacks on civilians

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- In February, the UN Security Council pased a resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in the war.
- In July, Iran attempted to cross the borders into Iraq.

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The military of Iraq became stronger they had raised an army of about one million and had obtained state of the art arms from France and the Soviet Union, (artillery pieces, tanks and armored personnel Carriers, combat aircraft’s and new chemical weapons).

Iraq attempted to develop or purchase weapons of mass destruction like biological or nuclear arms.

In July, the UN Security Council unanimously passed Resolution 598 urging Iraq and Iran to accept cease-fire, withdraw their forces, and settle their frontier disputes by negotiations held under the UN.

Iraq agreed to abide by the terms if Iran reciprocated but Iran demanded amendments condemning Iraq as the aggressor in the war meaning they would have to pay for war reparations.

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- At the start of 1988, the Iranian forces with Iraqi Kurds threatened the areas of Kirkūk to the Turkish border and penetrate the towns in Iraq’s northeastern provinces where they were met with resistance.
- In March, Iraqi forces killed around 5,000 Kurdish civilians with chemical weapons.
- Military operations in the gulf resumed, and in April 1988 Iraq recaptured the Fāw peninsula and then liberated the districts of Salamcha and Majnūn.
- In July, Iraqi forces once again penetrated into Iran, and the Iran Air flight 655, a passenger plane, was shot down by a U.S. middle cruiser after being mistaken for a fighter jet.
- This last tragedy accentuated the heavy toll the war had taken on civilians in Iran. Iran finally accepted United Nations Resolution 598 on July 20. The cease-fire came into force on August 20, 1988

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“Iran-Iraq War Causes, Overview & Timeline | Who Won the Iran-Iraq War? - Video & Lesson Transcript.” Study.com, 9 May 2022, https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-iran-iraq-war-causes-timeline.html. Accessed 3 March 2023.

“Iran-Iraq War | Causes, Summary, Casualties, & Facts.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 February 2023, https://www.britannica.com/event/Iran-Iraq-War. Accessed 3 March 2023.