Unraveling The Iran-Iraq War: Deep Roots Of A Brutal Conflict

Mafalda Tillman MD 07 Jul 2025

The Iran-Iraq War, a devastating conflict that raged for nearly eight years, left an indelible scar on the Middle East. Often referred to as the First Persian Gulf War, its origins are complex, intertwined with centuries of historical animosity, volatile political shifts, and intense regional power struggles. Understanding the Iran-Iraq War causes is crucial for grasping the geopolitical landscape of the modern Middle East and the enduring legacies of this brutal confrontation.

This brutal war, marked by unprecedented levels of destruction and loss, has had lasting implications for both nations and the broader Middle Eastern landscape. From its commencement with the Iraqi invasion of Iran on September 22, 1980, to the bilateral acceptance of UN Security Council Resolution 598 on July 20, 1988, the conflict claimed an estimated half a million lives, with some estimates of total casualties ranging from one million to twice that number. Its causes are rooted in historical territorial disputes, ideological differences, and regional power struggles, making it a multifaceted tragedy.

The Genesis of Conflict: Deep Historical Roots
Ideological Schism: The Aftermath of the Islamic Revolution
Territorial Disputes: The Shatt al-Arab and Beyond
Saddam Hussein's Ambitions: Geopolitical Gain and Regional Hegemony
- The Fear of Revolutionary Export
- Opportunism in a Time of Turmoil
The Spark: Iraq's Invasion and the Commencement of Hostilities
Brutality and Protraction: The Eight-Year Stalemate
- The Horror of Chemical Warfare
- Trench Warfare and Human Wave Attacks
The International Dimension: A Volatile Regional Tapestry
The Ceasefire and Lingering Aftermath

The Genesis of Conflict: Deep Historical Roots

The roots of the Iran-Iraq War run far deeper than the events of 1980, stretching back centuries to the ancient rivalry between the states of Persia (Iran) and Mesopotamia (Iraq). These two regions, cradles of civilization, have historically been geopolitical competitors, marked by shifting empires, cultural differences, and intermittent conflicts. This long-standing historical animosity formed a crucial backdrop, fostering a climate of mistrust and suspicion that would eventually contribute to the Iran-Iraq War causes. Such a conflict may arise from ethnic, national, or religious enmity, from competition over natural resources or territory, or over regional or global hegemony. In the case of Iran and Iraq, all these elements were present to varying degrees throughout their shared history. The specific causes of war lie in the subjective interpretations of such historical conflict and assessments regarding adequate means for achieving national objectives, which in turn fueled the decision-making that led to the devastating conflict.

Ideological Schism: The Aftermath of the Islamic Revolution

While historical grievances simmered, a seismic shift in Iran dramatically altered the regional balance of power and directly contributed to the Iran-Iraq War causes: the 1979 Islamic Revolution. After the Islamic Revolution, relations between Iran and Iraq worsened significantly for a number of reasons. The overthrow of the Shah, a secular monarch, and the rise of an Islamist revolutionary government led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini sent shockwaves across the Middle East, particularly in neighboring Iraq. Saddam Hussein's Ba'athist regime in Iraq, though predominantly Sunni Muslim, ruled over a majority Shi'a population, many of whom felt a strong religious affinity with the new Iranian leadership. Khomeini's revolutionary rhetoric, which called for the overthrow of corrupt, Western-backed regimes and the establishment of Islamic republics, was perceived as a direct threat by Saddam. Iraq's primary rationale for the attack against Iran cited the need to prevent Ruhollah Khomeini — who, in Saddam's view, sought to destabilize the region and export his revolution—from gaining further influence. This ideological clash, far more potent than previous disputes, became a primary driver of the impending war. The new Iranian government also took a strong anti-Western stance, exemplified by its actions regarding Israel: Iran then withdrew recognition of Israel as a state, severed all diplomatic and economic ties with the country, called the Israeli government a Zionist regime, and referred to the entire land under Israel as occupied Palestine. This demonstrated Iran's new, assertive, and ideologically driven foreign policy, further alarming its neighbors.

Territorial Disputes: The Shatt al-Arab and Beyond

Beyond the deep historical and ideological rifts, concrete territorial disputes served as immediate flashpoints and significant Iran-Iraq War causes. The most prominent of these was the dispute over the Shatt al-Arab waterway, a crucial navigable river that forms the border between the two countries before emptying into the Persian Gulf. Control over this waterway, vital for oil exports and trade, had been a source of contention for decades. In 1975, the Algiers Accord had been signed, ostensibly resolving the Shatt al-Arab dispute by granting Iran shared sovereignty over the waterway. However, Saddam Hussein viewed this treaty as an imposed humiliation, forced upon Iraq when it was in a weaker position. With the chaos following the Iranian Revolution, Saddam saw an opportunity to abrogate the treaty, reclaim full control of the Shatt al-Arab, and assert Iraqi dominance. This desire to reverse the perceived injustice of the Algiers Accord was a direct and tangible cause for the Iraqi invasion. The war began with Iraq’s invasion of Iran, driven by these border disputes and escalating political tensions.

Saddam Hussein's Ambitions: Geopolitical Gain and Regional Hegemony

At the heart of the conflict were the calculations and ambitions of Saddam Hussein. There are two main motives ascribed to Saddam Hussein’s decision to invade Iran. His decision was not merely reactive but driven by a strategic calculus aimed at cementing Iraq's position as the dominant power in the Persian Gulf region.

The Fear of Revolutionary Export

One primary motive was Saddam's profound fear of the Iranian Revolution's export. He genuinely believed that Khomeini's revolutionary fervor would incite Iraq's Shi'a majority to revolt against his Sunni-led government. Preventing Ruhollah Khomeini from spreading his revolutionary ideology and destabilizing Iraq was a critical rationale for the attack. Saddam sought to pre-empt this perceived threat by striking first and weakening the nascent revolutionary regime in Iran.

Opportunism in a Time of Turmoil

The second motive is that he invaded for geopolitical gain when international factors worked in his favour. Saddam perceived Iran as vulnerable in the aftermath of its revolution. The Iranian military, once a formidable force under the Shah, was in disarray due to purges, defections, and a lack of spare parts for its Western-supplied equipment. The international community, particularly the United States, was wary of the new Iranian regime due to the hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. This isolation meant that Iran would likely receive little international support if attacked. Saddam saw a window of opportunity to swiftly defeat Iran, establish Iraq as the undisputed regional hegemon, and perhaps even seize oil-rich territories. This pursuit of regional hegemony and strategic advantage was a powerful underlying Iran-Iraq War cause.

The Spark: Iraq's Invasion and the Commencement of Hostilities

The culmination of these deep-seated historical rivalries, ideological clashes, territorial disputes, and Saddam Hussein's strategic ambitions was the Iraqi invasion of Iran. The war between Iran and Iraq commenced with the Iraqi invasion of Iran on 22 September 1980. 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. Saddam's forces launched a multi-pronged attack across the border, aiming for a swift victory. Iraq's primary rationale for the attack against Iran cited the need to prevent Ruhollah Khomeini —who, in Saddam's view, posed an existential threat to his regime and regional stability—from expanding his revolutionary influence. Saddam expected a quick collapse of the Iranian military and government, allowing him to dictate terms and secure Iraq's dominance. However, what he got was a protracted, brutal conflict that defied all expectations.

Brutality and Protraction: The Eight-Year Stalemate

What began as a calculated invasion quickly devolved into a grinding war of attrition. However, the war persisted for nearly 8 long and bloody years, with an estimated half a million casualties. This brutal war emerged from deeply rooted historical animosities, complex political dynamics, and territorial disputes, and it was fought with a ferocity that shocked the world.

The Horror of Chemical Warfare

One of the most horrifying aspects of the conflict was the extensive use of unconventional weapons. The Iraqis used weapons of mass destruction, most notably mustard gas, against Iranian soldiers and even against their own Kurdish population. This egregious violation of international law highlighted the extreme lengths to which both sides were willing to go, and the disregard for human life that characterized much of the fighting. The international community's muted response to Iraq's chemical attacks only emboldened Saddam, allowing the atrocities to continue.

Trench Warfare and Human Wave Attacks

The war saw extensive use of trench warfare, reminiscent of World War I. Both sides dug in, leading to static front lines and immense casualties. Iran, with its larger population but less sophisticated military equipment, often resorted to human wave attacks, sending large numbers of poorly armed but ideologically motivated volunteers against Iraqi positions. This tactic, while costly in terms of human lives, often overwhelmed Iraqi defenses and prolonged the conflict far beyond Saddam's initial projections.

The International Dimension: A Volatile Regional Tapestry

The Iran-Iraq War was not fought in a vacuum. It was deeply embedded within a complex international and regional context, where various actors pursued their own interests, often exacerbating the conflict. The general principles of how such conflicts arise—from ethnic, national, or religious enmity, from competition over natural resources or territory, or over regional or global hegemony—were all at play, shaping the decisions of both belligerents and external powers. While the immediate Iran-Iraq War causes were bilateral, the broader geopolitical environment played a significant role. Many Arab states, fearful of Iran's revolutionary ideology, supported Iraq financially and militarily. Western powers, particularly the United States, initially adopted a stance of neutrality but gradually tilted towards Iraq, seeing Iran as the greater threat due to the hostage crisis and its anti-Western rhetoric. This support, often covert, provided Iraq with the resources to continue the war, contributing to its prolonged duration. What had once been a shadow war—fought through proxies, cyber tools, and strategic ambiguity—was becoming increasingly kinetic, visible, and difficult to contain in the broader Middle East, reflecting a regional environment ripe for large-scale conflict. One of the most striking developments has been the way regional rivalries have intensified, making conflicts like the Iran-Iraq War a grim precedent.

The Ceasefire and Lingering Aftermath

After nearly eight years of brutal fighting, the war finally drew to a close. 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. Fighting was ended by a 1988 ceasefire, though the resumption of normal diplomatic relations and the withdrawal of troops did not take place until 1990. By this point, after Iraqi forces pushed the Iranian army out of Iraq, neither country had the will nor the economic resources to continue the war. The sheer exhaustion and immense human and economic toll forced both sides to accept a UN-brokered peace. Estimates of total casualties range from one million to twice that number, making it one of the deadliest conflicts of the 20th century. The war left both nations devastated, their economies in ruins, and their societies deeply scarred. This brutal war, marked by unprecedented levels of destruction and loss, has had lasting implications for both nations and the broader Middle Eastern landscape. The unresolved issues and the legacy of mistrust continue to influence regional dynamics to this day, underscoring the profound and enduring impact of the Iran-Iraq War causes.

The Iran-Iraq War serves as a stark reminder of how historical grievances, ideological fervor, territorial disputes, and the ambitions of leaders can converge to unleash catastrophic conflict. The complex web of Iran-Iraq War causes created a powder keg that ignited into one of the 20th century's longest and deadliest conventional wars. Understanding these origins is not just an academic exercise; it offers crucial insights into the enduring geopolitical tensions that continue to shape the Middle East. What lessons do you think the international community can draw from the prolonged and devastating nature of this conflict? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and explore more articles on historical conflicts and their lasting impacts on our site.

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