Module 5: Iran-Iraq War

The Iran-Iraq War

Following the Iranian Revolution, in 1979, a new, theocratic government came to power in Iran.  This government was hostile to the United States in the early-1980s.  

The United States sought ways to bring down this new government.  Iraq, Iran's neighbor, was ruled by Saddam Hussein, a close U.S. ally in the region.  Iraq and Iran also had very strained relations, based on a territorial dispute.  Iraq determined that, given Iran was seemingly weakened by the Iran-Iraq War, it would be a good time to take advantage of this and invade, seizing the disputed territory.  The United States began to provide weapons, money, and intelligence to the Iraqi invaders, hoping that Iraq would further weaken Iran and its new government.  

However, the Iranian government was surprisingly resilient.  Despite American aid, Iranian forces fought well and soon the war ground down to a stalemate.  Hundreds of thousands were killed on both sides.  

Reagan's Change of Policy

Reagan changed US policy and began to secretly support the Iranians, by selling them high-tech American weaponry through Israeli agents.  Iran desperately needed these weapons to hold back the Iraqi invasion and, despite their hostility to the US, the Iranians were soon pouring money into America for war material.  

This money was then used to provide financial and military aid to the Contras in their terrorist war in Nicaragua.