Analyzing the Iran-Iraq War: Regional Power Shifts and Consequences

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the Iran-Iraq War, examining its origins, key events, and outcomes. The report details the initial invasion by Iraq, the prolonged stalemate, and the eventual ceasefire. It explores the military strengths, casualties, and economic losses of both Iran and Iraq, as well as the involvement of major world powers. The political implications of the war, including its impact on both countries' political systems and the financial repercussions for regional allies like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, are thoroughly discussed. Furthermore, the report analyzes how the war shifted the balance of power in the Persian Gulf, leading to changes in political security arrangements and increased interest from non-Arab countries. The conclusion summarizes the war's impact on regional dynamics, highlighting the shift from a balance of power to a balance of security in the region.

Who won the Iran Iraq
war and how it affected
the region's balance of
power?

Introduction
 Iran Iraq war was a result of protracted armed conflict.
 This was began on 22 September 1980 when Iraq invaded within territory boundaries of
neighbouring country Iran. This war lasted for approximately eight years and ended on 20
August 1988 in stalemate when any kind of further action to be taken were not possible.
 The main reason because of which Iraq invaded within boundaries of Iran was to cripple
Iran and prevent Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini from exporting Iranian revolution 1979
movement to Shia majority Iraq.
 This directly impacted Sunni-dominated Ba'athist leadership as well as threatened their
leadership.

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 This war lasted for approximately eight years. In this, eight years blood it can be said
that Iran won this war.
 But in reality, people who were victorious were big oil companies who were trading oil
at less than $10, big international arm dealers.
 It was also observed that there was a change within this war when US, Soviet Union
and other Arab countries get involved in this war and started supporting Iraq rather than
Iran and despite of this support Iraq did not achieve victory during this period.

Details description of Iran Iraq war and
ways it was important
Date and location
 This war started on 22 September 1980 and ended on 20 August 1988. It can also be
said that this was lasted for approximately 7 years, 10 months, 4 weeks and 1 day.
 Location where this war took place was Iraq, Iran, and Persian Gulf.

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 Results
 Both the sides claimed victory but if overall victory is seen then Iran won the war
 Iraqi failed to capture Iranian territories and bolster Arab separatism in Iran's Khuzestan
province. Other than this, it can also be said that Iraq failed to achieve any kind of pre-
war goals and objectives.
 Iraq also failed in separating Khuzestan from Iran, failed to stop oil flowing from Iran
and also failed to fight for Iranian oil.
 Iran however failed to destroy military power of Iraq but definitely came out in a much
better position after war as compared to Iraq. If mantel of victory is seen then Iran
definitely won the war.

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Strengths, causalities and losses
Strength:
 At start of the war Iran had approximately 150,000 soldiers, 2,100 tanks, 1,000
armoured vehicles, 485 fighter-bombers, 750 helicopters. Whereas Iraq had 200,000
soldiers, 2,800 tanks, 380 fighter-bombers, and 350 helicopters.
 At the end of the war Iran had approximately 600,000 soldiers, 1,500 tanks, 800
armoured vehicles, 80 fighter-bombers, and 90 helicopters. Whereas Iraq had 1,500,000
soldiers, 5000 tanks, 900 fighter-bombers, and 1000 helicopters.

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 Causalities and losses
Iran Iraq
Military dead Iran claimed that approximately
600,000 of their military people
died during this war.
Whereas Iraq said that
500,000 of their military
people died during the war.
Wounded in action 500,000 400,000
Prisoners of war 42,875 70,000
Civilian dead 16,000 reported by Iran Iraq did not declare how
many civilian died during
this war
Economic loss $ 627 billion $ 561 billion

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 Course of this war
Year What happened Course
1980 Iraqi Invasion Iraq launched full-scale invasion of Iran
1981 Stalemate Or approximately eight months both the sides were on defensive
footing
1982 Iraqi retreat, Iranian
offensive
Iraqi retreated Karun River and outlying areas remaining in their
possession. Iran became offensive for which Iraq was unprepared
1983-84 Strategic stalemate By the end of 1984, the war was a stalemate
1985-86 Offensives As Iraq received financial support from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and
other Persian Gulf states they began offensive
1987 Strategic situation By the end of 1987 Iraq not only has large number of tanks and
fighter planes but they also received Foreign support that helped
Iraq bypass its economic troubles and massive debt to continue the
war
1988 UN ceasefire Iran accepted UN ceasefire by accepting Resolution 598

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Overview of period of war
 During this eight years of war, many top world powers like United States, Soviet Union,
various Arab countries provided their military, intelligence, economic, and political support to
Iraq whereas Iran did not get any kind of support from these countries.
 Iraq invested approximately $7 billion in weapons every year during war that was
approximately 12 percent of global arms sales in the world in that period.
 After getting support from United States, Soviet Union, various Arab countries import for their
arms increased from $12 billion and $14 billion especially during 1984–1987. As Iran did not
get support from these countries their import of arms fell from $14 billion to $6 billion in
1986.

Political implications of this war
 As it is already known that main reason because of this war occurred was due to number of
territorial and political disputes between Iraq and Iran.
 In both the countries war had similar political impact i.e. it entrenched and stabilized the
political systems. In order to provide financial support to Iraq; Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
lost billions of dollars because loan given by them to Iraq has never been reimbursed.
 This war definitely shaped political system of Iraq in a positive manner. After a brief
period if instability, economic crises etc. world’s first Islamic republic country came
headed by their spiritual leader who was governed by elected president and parliament.

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 It can also be said that this was has particularly been a reason of development of nature
of political development since creation of state.
 This trust was developed at first place on deeply rooted and high resilient social facts of
family. This political chances within Iran were not much.
 Desperate political forces enhanced conflict in Iran because of which ability to hold
power of the new regime enhanced.

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 Even though the war ended, Iranian leaders continued to stress because of the fact that
Iran was internationally isolated in aftermath of its revolution.
 Newly formed government of Iran confront Iraq’s tanks and chemical weapons and
U.S. and Western support for Saddam.
 In 1988 when US drowned Iran Air flight during this war approximately 30 of innocent
Iranians were killed.

Ways in which Iran Iraq war brought shift
or changes within balance power
 Political security arrangements in Persian Gulf is based upon “balance of power”. This
balance of power is incapable of maintaining stability and security in this region especially
after downfall of Baathist regime in Iraq.
 This balance of power setting is completely based on Zero sum game as well as upon rise of
relative power of rivals.
 This type of system had resulted in tension, distrust, crises and wars. But this traditional
balance of power system between Iran and Iraq provided security to Arab states and
increased interest of foreign actions especially United States. But growth of Iran’s role
influenced regional and international communities.

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 This balance of security system is based upon a win- win game.
 Not only this it further helped in development of relative security among political rivals.
 With the help of this change within balance of power stability, cooperation, security and
positive rivalry increased.
 United states and Iran are the only two transregional actors and regions who has the
ability to successfully conduct military operations in Persian Gulf as well as develop a
political secure condition among large areas of their regions.

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 Countries in Arab world and United states focuses upon maintaining tis balance of
power so that stability and security in Persian Gulf region can be maintained.
 Before Iran Iraq war when balance of power was getting influenced by Iran it was
important to restrain Islamic region of Iran.
 Due to this region during war US put maximum efforts to minimize role of Iran in term
of balance of power. But this further created another issue or dilemma in Persian Gulf.

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 So yes it can be said that Iran Iraq war directly affected balance of power and brought a
shit within it.
 Iraq after achieving victory in this war and becoming world’s first Islamic republic
country resulted in development of balance of security.

Conclusion
 From the above presentation it has been concluded that Iran Iraq war was initiated by
Iraq when they invaded within territory boundaries of neighbouring country Iran.
 This was lasted for approximately eight years and after loosing thousands of military
people, innocent civilians, this war was won by Iran.
 But positive after benefits were seen within Iraq. It has also been concluded that this
war brought shift within balance of power i.e. after this war non- Arab countries started
taking interest within Persian gulf and change from balance of power to balance of
security was brought.

References
 Tabatabai, A.M. and Samuel, A.T., 2017. What the Iran-Iraq war tells us about the future of the Iran
nuclear deal. International Security. 42(1). pp.152-185.
 Ehsani, K., 2017. War and Resentment: Critical Reflections on the Legacies of the Iran-Iraq
War. Middle East Critique. 26(1). pp.5-24.
 Tabaar, M.A., 2019. Factional politics in the Iran–Iraq war. Journal of Strategic Studies. 42(3-4).
pp.480-506.
 Darwich, M., 2016. Ideational and material forces in threat perception: The divergent cases of Syria
and Saudi Arabia during the Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988). Journal of Global Security Studies. 1(2).
pp.142-156.
 Hourcade, B., 2017. Nationalism and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Constructing Nationalism in Iran
from the Qajars to the Islamic Republic. Edited by Meir Litvak. New York: Routledge, pp.218-28.

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