60 Questions
What was the nature of the external pressure on Iran and Iraq?
Verbal, in the form of UN resolutions
What was a significant consequence of the US's regime change in Iraq in 2003?
A new era of relations between Shia Iran and Shia majority Iraq
What has been the trend in hostile acts between Iran and Iraq since the end of the Iran-Iraq War?
A notable decline
What is a necessary condition for conflict resolution, but not always sufficient to ensure reconciliation?
A formal peace treaty
What is a characteristic of the current state of relations between Iran and Iraq?
A de facto resolution without a formal peace treaty
What event in 638 C.E. contributed to the historical roots of the con ct between Iran and Iraq?
The Muslim Arabs destroyed the Sassanid Empire
What was the primary concern of Iraq regarding Iran's actions in 1930?
Iran's building of dams that diverted water from the Shatt-al-Arab
Which organization attempted to mediate the con ct between Iran and Iraq in 1934?
The League of Nations
What is the primary source of Iraq's foreign exchange?
Oil
What has been the main point of contention between Iran and Iraq?
Territorial disputes over the Shatt-al-Arab
What was Iran's condition for accepting mediation in 1934?
Iraq's cession of territory to enable Iran's use of the port of Abadan
When did Iraq acquire formal statehood?
1932
What cultural difference between Iran and Iraq contributed to the con ct?
Ethnicity
What is the Shatt-al-Arab's significance to Iran?
It is a strategic location for achieving hegemony in the Persian Gulf
What event marked the beginning of the Islamic Arab military triumph over the Sassanian Empire?
The military triumph in 638 C.E.
What event in 2003 led to the replacement of a predominantly Sunni regime by the long-suppressed Shia majority in Iraq?
Overthrow of Saddam Hussein
What was the outcome of the Iran/Iraq War?
A costly stalemate
What is a possible reason for the non-resolution of the con ct?
Presence of con ct-sustaining acts
What is a consequence of the Iran/Iraq War?
Psychological consequences for both societies
What is a potential outcome of the collective and individual exhaustion of both nations?
A shared interest in resolving the con ct
The Shatt-al-Arab connects Iraq to the Red Sea.
False
The Iran-Iraq conflict started in 638 C.E.
False
Iraq's national economy is primarily based on agriculture.
False
The Iran-Iraq War led to a formal peace treaty between the two countries.
False
The League of Nations granted Iraq formal statehood in 1920.
False
The UN imposed economic sanctions on Iran and Iraq during their conflict.
False
The Shia majority in Iraq was oppressed by Saddam Hussein's regime.
True
The Shatt-al-Arab is the key to Iraq's strategy for achieving hegemony in the Persian Gulf.
False
The modern phase of the con ct between Iran and Iraq began in the 19th century.
False
The Iran-Iraq War marked the beginning of a prolonged period of peace between the two countries.
False
The overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003 led to a significant decrease in hostile acts between Iran and Iraq.
True
The Shatt-al-Arab Waterway is a maritime con ct that separates Iran from Iraq.
True
Iran made its acceptance of mediation in 1934 conditional on Iraq's cession of a significant portion of its territory.
False
The League of Nations successfully mediated the con ct between Iran and Iraq in 1934.
False
The con ct between Iran and Iraq began as a result of the Muslim Arabs' destruction of the Sassanid Empire in 638 C.E.
False
The Iran-Iraq War resulted in a decisive victory for Iraq.
False
The 2003 US-led regime change in Iraq led to the replacement of a Shia regime with a Sunni majority.
False
The Iran-Iraq War was fought from 1990 to 1991.
False
The exhaustion of both nations after the Iran-Iraq War led to a formal peace treaty.
False
The Shatt-al-Arab waterway is of little significance to Iran.
False
What has characterized the decline in hostile acts between Iran and Iraq since the end of the Iran/Iraq War?
a notable decline, especially after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003
What is the significance of the US's regime change in Gulf War II for Iran and Iraq?
a new era between Shia Iran and Shia majority Iraq
What is a key difference between changes in behavior and changes in attitudes towards a long-time enemy in interstate conflicts?
changes in behavior do not guarantee changes in attitudes
What is the relationship between formal conflict resolution and reconciliation?
formal conflict resolution does not ensure reconciliation
What is the current status of the conflict between Iran and Iraq?
a muted, de facto resolution, but not formal peace
How did the destruction of the Sassanid Empire in 638 C.E. contribute to the historical roots of the con ct between Iran and Iraq?
The destruction of the Sassanid Empire marked the beginning of the historical roots of the con ct between Iran and Iraq, as it led to the rise of Muslim Arabs and the eventual rivalry between Persian and Arab empires.
What was the primary issue that led to the initial internationalization of the con ct between Iran and Iraq in 1930?
The primary issue was Iraq's accusation that Iran was building dams that illegally diverted water from the Iraq-controlled Shatt-al-Arab, which separated and joined the two regional major power Gulf rivals.
What was the outcome of the League of Nations' mediation effort in 1934?
The mediation effort failed, as Iran made its acceptance of mediation conditional on Iraq's cession of territory, which Iraq rejected.
How did the rivalry between Iran and Iraq reflect deeper cultural and religious differences between the two nations?
The rivalry reflected profound differences in culture and ethnicity (Persian-Iranian vs. Arab), religion (Shia vs. Sunni Islam), and the historic rivalry between Middle East empires (Mesopotamia vs. Persia).
What was the significance of the Shatt-al-Arab waterway in the con ct between Iran and Iraq?
The Shatt-al-Arab waterway was a major point of contention between Iran and Iraq, as it separated and joined the two regional major power Gulf rivals, and was critical to Iran's use of the port of Abadan.
What is the strategic significance of the Shatt-al-Arab Waterway for Iraq?
It is Iraq's only viable access to the Persian/Arab Gulf, crucial for marketing its oil, the primary source of its foreign exchange, and vital to its national security.
How did the Islamic Arab military triumph over the Sassanian Empire in 638 C.E. contribute to the historical roots of the Iran-Iraq conflict?
It laid the foundation for the rivalry between Iran and Iraq, shaping the territorial and identity-based disputes that would arise in the centuries to come.
What is the primary source of conflict between Iran and Iraq, according to the text?
Territorial disputes, particularly over the Shatt-al-Arab Waterway.
What is the significance of 1932 in the context of Iraq's history?
It is the year Iraq acquired formal statehood under a UK Mandate from the League of Nations.
What is the relationship between territorial rivalry and the struggle for control over the Shatt-al-Arab Waterway?
Territorial rivalry has long been closely linked to the struggle for control over the Shatt-al-Arab Waterway.
How did the outcome of the Iran/Iraq War influence the relationship between Iran and Iraq?
The war led to collective and individual exhaustion in both nations, inducing a shared interest in resolving their conflict on acceptable terms.
What was the significance of the 2003 event that replaced a predominantly Sunni regime with a Shia majority in Iraq?
The overthrow of Saddam Hussein led to the replacement of a predominantly Sunni regime with a Shia majority in Iraq.
What is a possible reason for the non-resolution of the conflict between Iran and Iraq?
The absence of one or more of the six postulated conditions for conflict resolution in the Resolution Model.
What was the geographical significance of the Shatt-al-Arab waterway in the conflict between Iran and Iraq?
The Shatt-al-Arab waterway is significant to Iran, connecting Iraq to the Persian Gulf.
What historical event marked the beginning of the modern phase of the conflict between Iran and Iraq?
The Islamic Arab military triumph over the Sassanian Empire in 638 C.E.
Study Notes
Historical Background of Iran-Iraq Conflict
- The historical roots of the Iran-Iraq conflict date back to 638 C.E., when the Muslim Arabs destroyed the four-century Sassanid (Neo-Persian) Empire.
- The modern, post-World War I phase of the conflict began in the second decade of the inter-world war period (1919-1939).
Causes of the Conflict
- Three basic causes of the onset of the modern Middle East protracted conflict:
- Territory: The territorial dispute over the Shatt-al-Arab (Arab Waterway), which dates to the sixteenth century.
- Identity-religious and ethnic: Profound differences in culture and ethnicity (Persian-Iranian vs. Arab), religion (Shia vs. Sunni Islam), and historic rivalry between Middle East empires (Mesopotamia vs. Persia).
- Ideology: The struggle for power and hegemony in the Persian Gulf.
The Shatt-al-Arab Waterway
- The Shatt-al-Arab Waterway is crucial for the marketing of Iraq's oil, the most valuable element of its national economy and the primary source of its foreign exchange.
- Sovereignty over the Shatt has been vital to Iraq's national security.
- For Iran, control over the Shatt is the key to its strategy for achieving hegemony in the Persian Gulf.
Mediation Efforts and Consequences
- In 1934, Iraq complained to the League of Nations, which attempted to mediate a seemingly minor material dispute.
- Iran made its acceptance of mediation conditional on Iraq's cession of territory, which Iraq rejected.
- The failure of the mediation efforts led to the initial internationalization of the conflict.
Consequences of the Conflict
- The Iran-Iraq War resulted in a million or more fatalities and massive material losses.
- The conflict had profound psychological consequences in both societies.
- The absence of any human, political, or economic gains or compensation from the war led to a shared interest in resolving the conflict.
Decline in Conflict-Sustaining Acts
- Since the end of the Iran-Iraq War, state-organized, directed, and implemented violence between the principal adversaries has ceased.
- The decline in hostile acts against the longstanding rival and enemy has been notable, especially after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003.
- A new era between Shia Iran and Shia majority Iraq began as a consequence of the US's regime change in Gulf War II.
Conditions for Conflict Resolution
- The presence of one or more of the following conditions may indicate partial, informal conflict resolution:
- Exhaustion: Collective and individual exhaustion pervaded both nations.
- Changes in the balance of capability.
- Domestic pressures.
- External pressures.
- Reduction in discordance of objectives by the principal adversaries.
- Decline in conflict-sustaining acts.
Explore the historical roots of the protracted conflict between Iraq and Iran, dating back to 638 C.E. Learn about the modern phase of the conflict that began in the inter-war period and its impact on the region.
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