Shatt al-Arab dispute
The Shatt al-Arab dispute was a
Background
Since the Ottoman–Persian Wars of the 16th and 17th centuries, Iran (known as "Persia" prior to 1935) and the Ottomans fought over Iraq (then known as Mesopotamia) and full control of the Shatt al-Arab until the signing of the Treaty of Zuhab in 1639 which established the final borders between the two countries.[2]: 4
Clashes
Pahlavi Iran-Iraqi Kingdom tensions
The Shatt al-Arab was considered an important channel for both states' oil exports, and in 1937, Iran and the newly independent Iraq signed a treaty to settle the dispute. In the same year, Iran and Iraq both joined the Treaty of Saadabad, and relations between the two states remained good for decades afterwards.[3]
Pahlavi Iran-Ba'athist Iraq tensions
Crisis in relations 1969–1974
In April 1969, Iran
In 1971, Iraq (now under Saddam's effective rule) broke diplomatic relations with Iran after claiming sovereignty rights over the islands of
Military clashes 1974–75
From March 1974 to March 1975, Iran and Iraq fought border skirmishes over Iran's support of Iraqi Kurds.
After the Iranian Revolution
Despite Iraq's goals of regaining the Shatt al-Arab, the Iraqi government seemed to initially welcome Iran's Revolution, which overthrew Iran's Shah, who was seen as a common enemy.[3][9] On 17 September 1980, Iraq suddenly abrogated the Algiers Protocol following the Iranian revolution. Saddam Hussein claimed that the Islamic Republic of Iran refused to abide by the stipulations of the Algiers Protocol and, therefore, Iraq considered the Protocol null and void. Five days later, the Iraqi army crossed the border.[10]
See also
- Iraqi invasion of Iran (1980)
References
- ^ "Iran Iraq War 1980-1990". www.onwar.com. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ "The Origin and Development of Imperialist Contention in Iran; 1884–1921". History of Iran. Iran Chamber Society.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-84176-371-2.
- ISBN 978-0-8130-1177-6.
- ^ Mirfendereski, Guive (2005). "Tonb (Greater and Lesser)". Encyclopædia Iranica.
- ^ a b Ranard, Donald A. (ed.). "History". Iraqis and Their Culture. Archived from the original on 10 January 2011.
- ISBN 978-1-78096-221-4.
- ^ "CSP - Major Episodes of Political Violence, 1946-2013". Systemicpeace.org. Retrieved 2018-09-24.
- ^ "Iran-Iraq War 1980–1988". History of Iran. Iran Chamber Society.
- ^ "IRAQ vii. IRAN–IRAQ WAR". Encyclopædia Iranica. 15 December 2006.