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History CIE Iran-Iraq war

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Long term causes of war - Differences in religion
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Long term causes of war - Differences in religion
Iraq (Saddam) was Sunni whereas Iran is Shi'ite. The Iranian revolution threatened the Ba'athists control over the Iraqian Shi'ite population - the rebels in the Marshlands and the Kurds - who were armed by the Iranians to fight back against Saddam
Why was saddam so threatened by the Shi'ites?
The Ba'athists were socialist and had implemented many modernisations (more western) in Iraq - women getting an education etc. On the other hand, in Iran women are veiled and law falls in with the Islamic rule. If Iran gets too powerful, they threaten an uprising against everything Saddam has achieved so far, especially since most people like him for his 'improvements' to Iraq.
What was the political difference between Iraq and Iran (long term causes)?
Iraq was ruled by the Ba'athists (socialists who downgraded importance of religion) and Iran was an Islamic republic after 1979. This is a fundamental ideological division
Short term causes - Iranian revolution
The revolution inspired many Iraqi Shi'ites who went on to do Iranian-inspired assassination attempts on Iraqi officials and Iranians armed Kurds in hope they would rebel.
Saddam said he would purge the Ba'athist party of Iranian spies
What were Iraqi aims for attacking Iran in September 1980?
Full control of Shatt-Arab waterway, as Iraq had a weak access to the sea. The 1975 Algiers agreement only gave him a median line which simply wasn't enough. (After attacking, Iran tore up this agreement in retaliation)