The war between Iran and Iraq took place between 1980 and 1988. Iran war was commonly referred to as the Gulf War or Persian Gulf War. Although many people believe that many things fuelled it, for example religious schisms, Iraq also wanted to acquire the three main islands: Abu Musa, Greater and Lesser Tunbs. Political differences were also a cause but the border between these two countries is believed to be the most possible cause of this hostility. Iran’s vulnerability did not go unnoticed by Sadam Hussein and he saw it as a big chance to invade Iran. With his wicked motivations, Sadam was jealous and his determination to stop Iran from being the dominant state as it had been since Cyrus the great and other Persian old leaders.

Since 1979, Iraq and Iran have been involved in so many border disputes over Shatt al Arab channel. In September 1980, it got more serious and it resulted to exchange of fire from both sides. A few days later, Saddam Hussein announced that the Shatt al Arab was returning to Iraqi sovereignty. Iran did not agree with him and hostilities escalated as the two sides exchanged bombing raids deep into each other’s territory, beginning what was to be a lengthy and extremely costly war on Iran.

On September 22 1980, Iraq attacked Iran without a formal warning, hoping to take control of the most territories in Iran. This caught Iranian army by surprise.  Iraqi army attacked Iran’s air base near Tehran. They destroyed runways, fuel and ammunitions but they failed to destroy the air crafts.  Iran was not prepared for this attack so Iraq managed to take control of some Iranian territories but by June 1982 Iran recovered almost all the lost territories. Although the United Nations Security Council made so many calls for ceasefire, the war continued until August 1988. When the war in Iran ended, it took a considerable period of time for the Iranian forces to leave Iraqi territory. The last prisoners of war were exchanged 2003.

The effect the war had in caused a lot of damage in people’s lives, economy not to mention more than 100,000 people, including soldiers and civilians who lost their lives with many others being injured.