Unraveling The Iraq-Iran War: Who Ignited The Decades-Long Conflict?

Timmy Blanda 19 Jun 2025

The Iraq-Iran War, a brutal and protracted conflict that reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East, remains a subject of intense historical scrutiny. Spanning nearly a decade, it claimed millions of lives and left an indelible scar on both nations. Understanding such a monumental event necessitates addressing a fundamental question: who started the Iraq Iran war? While the answer might seem straightforward at first glance, delving into the historical context reveals a complex tapestry of long-standing grievances, ideological clashes, and strategic ambitions that culminated in outright warfare.

This article aims to meticulously explore the origins of this devastating conflict, dissecting the immediate triggers and the deeper historical currents that set the stage for one of the 20th century's bloodiest wars. We will examine the motivations of key players, the critical events leading up to the invasion, and the international dynamics at play, providing a comprehensive answer to the question of who truly initiated the hostilities.

A Legacy of Lingering Tensions: The Pre-War Landscape

To truly grasp who started the Iraq Iran war, one must look beyond the fateful day of September 22, 1980. The seeds of conflict were sown decades earlier, almost immediately after the establishment of Iraq as a modern nation in 1921, in the aftermath of World War I. This nascent state, carved out of the Ottoman Empire, shared a long, often disputed border with its ancient Persian neighbor, Iran. By the 1970s, one enduring source of conflict involved the Shatt al-Arab waterway, a crucial artery for oil exports and a gateway to the Persian Gulf. Both nations claimed sovereignty over parts of this strategic waterway, leading to frequent skirmishes and diplomatic standoffs. Beyond border disputes, historical grievances, ethnic differences (Arab vs. Persian), and religious schisms (Sunni-dominated Iraq vs. Shi'a-majority Iran) simmered beneath the surface, creating a volatile regional dynamic. Geographically, Iran is a formidable nation, a middle eastern country bordered by Turkey and Iraq to the west, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan to the east, the Caspian Sea to the north, and the Persian Gulf to the south. Its sheer size is noteworthy; Iran is twice the size of Afghanistan and three times the size of Iraq, which gave it a significant strategic depth, but also presented challenges in defending its vast frontiers. This geographical reality contributed to the complexities of any military engagement between the two powers.

The Seismic Shift of 1979: Iran's Revolution and Iraq's Fears

While historical tensions provided the backdrop, the immediate catalyst for the war was the dramatic political upheaval in Iran. Relations with Iran had grown increasingly strained after the Shah was overthrown in 1979, culminating in the Islamic Revolution. This transformative event replaced the pro-Western monarchy with an Islamic Republic led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the spiritual leader of the Iranian Revolution. Khomeini proclaimed a revolutionary policy that sought to export its Islamic ideals across the region, particularly to Shi'a communities. This vision sent shivers down the spine of Iraq's Ba'athist government, led by Saddam Hussein. Although Iraq recognized Iran’s new Shiʿi Islamic government, the Iranian leaders would have nothing to do with the Baʿath regime, which they denounced as secular and illegitimate. This ideological chasm was profound. Iraq, despite its Sunni-dominated government, had a significant Shi'ite majority, a demographic fact that Saddam Hussein viewed with increasing alarm. He was deeply worried that the 1979 Iranian Revolution would ignite a similar uprising among Iraq's Shi'ite population, threatening his grip on power. Furthermore, Saddam harbored ambitions to replace Iran as the dominant Persian Gulf state. With Iran seemingly weakened and isolated in the aftermath of its revolution, Saddam saw a strategic window of opportunity to assert Iraq's regional hegemony and simultaneously neutralize the perceived threat of revolutionary Iran. This confluence of fear and ambition provided the potent mix that would soon explode into war.

The Invasion: September 22, 1980 – The Point of No Return

The question of "how did the war start" is answered definitively by the events of September 1980. After months of escalating border skirmishes, diplomatic rhetoric, and a clear build-up of Iraqi forces, the moment of truth arrived.

Saddam Hussein's Calculated Gamble

**The war began when Iraq, under dictator Saddam Hussein, invaded Iran on September 22, 1980.** This was not a spontaneous eruption of violence but a calculated move by Baghdad. Saddam Hussein believed Iran was vulnerable. Its military had been purged of many experienced officers loyal to the Shah, and the country was grappling with internal revolutionary turmoil. He saw an opportunity to seize disputed territories, especially the Shatt al-Arab, and to cripple Iran's revolutionary government before it could consolidate its power and spread its influence. The invasion was launched after a long history of border disputes, which Saddam used as a pretext, and after Iran had increasingly demanded the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime, further fueling Baghdad's paranoia. Iraqi forces crossed the border on multiple fronts, aiming for a swift victory. In the first stage, Iraq invaded Iran and made rapid progress, exploiting Iran's initial disarray.

The Early Stages: Blitzkrieg to Stalemate

The conflict saw early successes by the Iraqis. Their well-equipped and organized forces pushed deep into Iranian territory, particularly in the oil-rich province of Khuzestan. However, before long, they were repulsed. Despite the purges, the Iranian military, bolstered by revolutionary guards and a fervent populace, mounted a fierce resistance. The initial Iraqi advance was halted in the Iranian desert, far short of Saddam's ambitious objectives. What Saddam had envisioned as a quick, decisive victory quickly devolved. The conflict stabilized into a long war of attrition, a grinding struggle characterized by trench warfare reminiscent of World War I. The front lines became largely static, and both sides dug in for a protracted and bloody confrontation. This early shift from a war of movement to one of attrition fundamentally changed the nature of the conflict and prolonged its agony.

The War's Brutal Evolution: Attrition, Cities, and Civilian Toll

As the war dragged on, its character grew increasingly brutal. Both sides, unable to achieve decisive breakthroughs on the ground, resorted to targeting civilian populations and economic infrastructure. This period saw the infamous 'war of the cities', where Baghdad and Tehran, along with other major urban centers, were subjected to relentless missile and aerial bombardments. This indiscriminate targeting resulted in the killing of hundreds of thousands of civilians, turning daily life into a terrifying gamble for millions. Economically, the war had significant implications, particularly for the oil industry, which was vital to both nations. Although Iraq and Iran attacked each other’s oil installations from the start of the war in order to destroy one another’s oil production capabilities, the broader global impact was surprisingly limited. Oil prices only rose for a short period, and there was no real effect on the world oil market during the war (Ramazani, p. [Specific page number if available, otherwise omit for generality]). This was partly due to increased production from other OPEC members and the strategic oil reserves held by major consuming nations, which mitigated the supply disruptions from the Gulf. The 'tanker war' also escalated, with both sides targeting oil tankers and merchant shipping in the Persian Gulf, further disrupting global trade and drawing in international naval forces to protect shipping lanes. The conflict became a proxy battleground for regional and global powers, with various nations providing support, overtly or covertly, to one side or the other, complicating any prospects for a swift resolution.

Iran's Resurgence: Turning the Tide

Despite the initial setbacks, Iran gradually regained its footing. The revolutionary fervor, coupled with a numerical advantage in manpower, allowed Iran to launch a series of counter-offensives. After two years of relentless fighting, Iran had recaptured its territories, pushing Iraqi forces back across the international border. More significantly, Iran managed to cut Iraq off from the sea ports, particularly by threatening Basra, Iraq's second-largest city and its primary access to the Persian Gulf. This strategic move severely hampered Iraq's ability to export oil and receive vital supplies, placing immense pressure on Saddam Hussein's regime. By 1982, Iran had not only repelled the invasion but also began to contemplate invading Iraqi territory, shifting the war's objective from defense to liberation and even, for some, to the overthrow of Saddam's government. This shift prolonged the war for another six years, as Iran, driven by a desire for retribution and the elimination of the Ba'athist threat, refused to accept a ceasefire until its conditions were met, conditions that Iraq found unacceptable. The international community, fearing the collapse of Iraq and the further spread of Iranian revolutionary ideology, largely sided with Iraq, providing it with military and financial assistance.

The International Dimension and End of Hostilities

The Iraq-Iran War was not fought in a vacuum. It quickly became a proxy conflict for various international players, each with their own strategic interests. The United States, initially neutral, gradually leaned towards supporting Iraq, fearing a triumphant revolutionary Iran. The Soviet Union, France, and other nations also supplied arms and aid to both sides at different points, further fueling the conflict. The United Nations played a crucial role in trying to mediate an end to the hostilities. Numerous resolutions were passed, but it was United Nations Security Council Resolution 598 that finally provided the framework for peace. This resolution, adopted in 1987, called for an immediate ceasefire, withdrawal of forces to international borders, and a prisoner exchange. Active hostilities began with the Iraqi invasion of Iran and lasted for nearly eight years, until the acceptance of United Nations Security Council Resolution 598 by both sides. Iran, exhausted by years of war, immense casualties, and international isolation, reluctantly accepted the ceasefire in July 1988, with Ayatollah Khomeini famously likening it to "drinking from a poisoned chalice." Iraq, despite its initial aggression, also found itself in a precarious position, facing economic ruin and a depleted military. The acceptance of Resolution 598 marked the official end of the war, though the underlying tensions and grievances would persist for decades.

Beyond the Battlefield: Lasting Legacies

The Iraq-Iran War left an indelible mark on both nations and the broader Middle East. For Iraq, the war was a pyrrhic victory. Saddam Hussein, while surviving the conflict, emerged with a massive foreign debt and a highly militarized society. The war's economic toll and the unresolved border issues contributed to his later decision to invade Kuwait in 1990, setting the stage for the Gulf War and a cascade of events that would ultimately lead to his downfall. For Iran, the war solidified the Islamic Republic's revolutionary identity but at a tremendous cost. The country faced immense human and material losses, and its economy was devastated. The experience of the war also fostered a deep sense of self-reliance and suspicion of external powers, shaping its foreign policy for decades to come. The millions of casualties, the use of chemical weapons by Iraq, and the destruction of infrastructure represented a human tragedy of immense proportions, the scars of which are still visible today. The conflict also altered regional power dynamics, leaving a legacy of instability and mistrust that continues to influence geopolitical calculations in the Persian Gulf.

Reaffirming the Catalyst: Who Started the Iraq Iran War?

After examining the intricate web of historical grievances, ideological clashes, and strategic ambitions, the answer to who started the Iraq Iran war becomes unequivocally clear. While long-standing border disputes and the revolutionary rhetoric emanating from Tehran certainly contributed to the volatile atmosphere, the active hostilities began with a deliberate act of aggression by one nation against another. **The war began when Iraq, under dictator Saddam Hussein, invaded Iran on September 22, 1980.** This invasion was the direct trigger, the point at which simmering tensions boiled over into full-scale warfare. Saddam Hussein's motivations were multifaceted: a desire to seize disputed territory, a bid for regional dominance, and, crucially, a deep-seated fear that Iran's Islamic Revolution would destabilize his own regime by inciting Iraq's Shi'ite majority. Iran's demands for the overthrow of Saddam's regime further exacerbated these fears and provided a convenient pretext for the invasion. In essence, while the complex historical context and the Iranian Revolution created fertile ground for conflict, it was Iraq's decision to launch a full-scale military invasion that ignited the devastating eight-year war. This act of aggression, aimed at achieving strategic objectives and neutralizing a perceived threat, firmly places the responsibility for initiating the conflict on Baghdad.

Conclusion

The Iraq-Iran War stands as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of unresolved historical grievances and unchecked geopolitical ambitions. The question of who started the Iraq Iran war is not merely academic; it points to the critical moment when diplomacy failed and military force was unleashed. The evidence overwhelmingly indicates that active hostilities commenced with the Iraqi invasion of Iran on September 22, 1980. This calculated gamble by Saddam Hussein, driven by a mix of fear and ambition, plunged the region into a conflict that would claim millions of lives and leave a lasting legacy of instability. Understanding this pivotal moment in history is crucial for comprehending the subsequent trajectory of the Middle East. The echoes of this war continue to resonate, shaping regional alliances, domestic policies, and international relations. We hope this comprehensive analysis has shed light on the complex origins of this conflict and provided a clear answer to the fundamental question of its initiation. What are your thoughts on the long-term impact of the Iraq-Iran War on the region? Share your perspectives in the comments below, or explore other articles on our site for more insights into historical conflicts and their enduring legacies.

In U.S.-Led Iraq War, Iran Was the Big Winner - The New York Times

Insurgency in Iraq Widens Rivals’ Rift - The New York Times

In Iraq’s Mountains, Iranian Opposition Fighters Feel the Squeeze - The

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