Ceasefire has been announced between America and Iran after a continuous war that lasted for about one and a quarter months. However, this ceasefire has been declared for 15 days. Meanwhile, both the sides will sit and talk, and everything will be good, favorable to both the countries, then the end of the war can also be announced. If this happens, it will be better not only for Iran-America but for the entire world and humanity. But, the conditions are very difficult. Until the end of the war is announced, the whole world is going to keep an eye on this possible agreement. Iran fought one such war with its neighbor Iraq for almost eight years.
There was huge loss of life and property of both the countries but then a compromise was reached between them and peace was established. Let us remember the Iran-Iraq war on the pretext of ceasefire between America and Iran. Why did the war happen? How did it continue for eight years? How much damage was caused? How did the two countries reach the agreement?
Who brokered the ceasefire between Iran and Iraq?
The eight-year war between Iran and Iraq ended in 1988 on the basis of United Nations Security Council Resolution 598. This is generally called compromise or ceasefire agreement. This was not a paper bilateral treaty, but a framework for a ceasefire and further negotiations under the supervision of the United Nations. It was decided that both the countries should immediately cease fire.
An Iranian army soldier crying after losing his brother in the Iraq attack. Photo: Kaveh Kazemi/Getty Images
Armies should go back to the international border. There should be an exchange of prisoners. There should be a process to investigate the responsibility and causes of the war. Further peace talks should be held. This ceasefire is considered to be in effect from 20 August 1988. Later the talks continued within this framework. When the situation changed after the killing of Iraq’s dictatorial ruler Saddam Hussein. American influence also increased in Iraq.
What was the real reason for the war?
There were many reasons behind this war. Some were old and some were made immediately. Barely a year before the start of this war, there was a change of power in Iran. Nevertheless, broadly the reasons for war were the following important points.
- Border dispute: There is an important waterway between Iran and Iraq, which is called Shatt-al-Arab. There was tension between the two countries regarding its border for a long time.
- Political and security fears: After the Iranian Revolution of 1979, a new power came to power in Iran. Iraq feared that the ideology of the revolution might affect its country as well.
- Competition for regional leadership: At that time there was competition to increase influence in the Gulf region. There was a feeling in both the countries that they should become major powers in the region.
- Wrong assessment: Many historians believe that Iraq thought that Iran was weak from internal changes and would be quickly subdued. His guess did not turn out to be correct.
Due to some of these reasons, the war started in the year 1980 and gradually it turned into a full-fledged war and continued for about eight years.
Impact of Iraq-Iran war Oil hit infrastructure, cities, industries and ports.Photo: Jacques Pavlovsky/Sygma via Getty Images
How many deaths occurred and how much damage was caused?
The Iran-Iraq war is counted among the most destructive wars of the 20th century. But it is difficult to give exact numbers, because different sources give different figures. Estimates are often said to be several lakhs in both the countries combined. Many reports put the death toll between five and ten lakh.
More people were injured than dead. Millions of people were permanently affected. Both countries are estimated to suffer a loss of up to hundreds of billions of dollars. Oil infrastructure, cities, industries and ports were heavily affected. Attacks on cities, missile attacks, displacement and an atmosphere of fear continued for a long time. This war was not limited to the military front only. It affected common life, economy and the entire generation.
Iran’s first Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, called this war not just a border dispute but a struggle to protect Islam.
Why did it take eight years for the war to end?
There were many reasons behind the war lasting so long. Both sides wanted to claim victory. Iraq was ahead in the initial phase. Later Iran made a comeback in many areas. Then the war got stuck in a situation of neither victory nor defeat. Both countries did not trust each other. Every proposal was viewed with suspicion. The interests of different countries got involved in this war. Many forces supported in their own ways. Due to this, the fighting capability remained intact and the war continued to drag on. Incidents like attacks on oil exports, ports, tankers increased tension. But at the same time efforts to raise money to wage the war also continued. When huge losses are incurred in a long war, it becomes difficult for leaders to retreat suddenly. They feel that the sacrifice should not go in vain. Due to these reasons, the path to compromise kept being made and broken again and again.
Saddam Hussein attacked Iran in 1980.
How did arbitration begin?
The United Nations became the largest platform for mediation. International pressure gradually increased as the war was affecting regional trade, oil supplies and maritime security. The United Nations had made appeals earlier also but the decisive framework was Resolution 598. In this, along with the ceasefire, further procedures were also laid down. Both countries were tired of continuous fighting for eight years. Casualties were increasing. The economy was in ruins.
In such a situation, ground was created to stop the war. The security of sea routes, stability of the oil market and the growing threat to the region increased the interest of many countries in stopping the war. Ultimately both sides accepted a ceasefire under the supervision of the United Nations. After this, the way for talks opened on border surveillance, prisoners and other issues. The ceasefire did not create complete peace in a day, but it was the most important first step. This made further talks possible and gradually peace was achieved.
In this way, it can be said that the Iran-Iraq war lasted from 1980 to 1988 and UN Security Council Resolution 598 became the basis for ending it. This war broke out due to reasons like border dispute, regional politics, security fear and miscalculation. It affected millions of people and caused huge damage to the economy of both the countries. It took eight years because both sides remained adamant on victory conditions, there was lack of trust, and many of the factors driving the war remained. In the end, UN mediation, international pressure and war fatigue combined to pave the way for a ceasefire.
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