The Iran-Iraq War,1980-1988
- A Shiite revolution takes place in Iran and the Shah was replaced by Ayatollah Khomeini
- This concerned the Sunni leader, Saddam Hussein in Iraq
- Khomeini was very anti-American so they supported Iraq
- War breaks out in fear that the revolution would spread to Iraq (really a war of religion although they both claimed territory of each others)
- UN gets involved in 1988 and a formal treaty is signed with no gains in 1990
Summery: Shiite revolution in Iran was to replace Shah (leader) so Ayatollah Khomeini takes power and he was concerned the Sunni leader Saddam Hussein in Iraq. The war breaks out in fear that the revolution would spread to Iraq. The UN gets involved in 1988 and a formal treaty is signed with no gains in 1990. Poison gas was used throughout the war.
Quote: Kissinger- "the Arab embargo was a symbolic gesture of limited practical impact."