The Iran Iraq War

The Iran Iraq War resulted in millions of casualties and billions of dollars worth of damages, with neither side benefitting in return. The prolonged war was rooted in territorial and religious disputes among the bordering nations. Saddam Hussein, dictator of Iraq, strongly advocated for “progress under the banner of secularism and a united Arab destiny” (Ibrahim). On the other hand, Iranian leader during the war, Ayatollah Khomeini, became an activist for a fundamentalist Islamic state. The neighboring leaders lived in fear that their opponent would pose a threat to the regimes rising in their respective nations. These tensions and discrepancies ultimately lead to a war that devastated the people and infrastructure of both countries. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Iran underwent a series of revolutions fueled by Shah Mohammed Reza. The shah was eager to consolidate his position as leader of Iran and as a result, expelled many leaders …show more content…
Iraq won the war militarily, yet minimal territory was gained. Iraq could not afford the expenses encountered in future wars because of the deficits formed through the purchase of chemical weapons and the costs of war reparations. The oil-exporting capacity of both nations declined causing a reduction in each nation’s economic growth and overall income. Each nations international reputation, particularly Iraq’s, was destroyed because of their use of chemical weapons on civilians. Diplomatic relations were restored between the two countries, but no issues that stemmed from the war were resolved. Also, the final prisoner of war exchange was not completed until 2003, fifteen years after the war. A staggering number of prisoners still oppressed years after the war raised worldwide recognition of the detrimental morals of the two leaders. The legacy of the Iran Iraq War greatly impacted the way in which the two nations are developing