The 1975 Algiers Agreement, brokered by Washington and Baghdad, had temporarily settled the issue by granting Iraq full control of the waterway, forcing Iran to relinquish its historical claims. Kurdish Insurgency and Regional Fears Another contributing factor was the Kurdish rebellion simmering in the northern mountains of Iraq.
Saddam Hussein’s Secular Threat and the Path to War
This narrow, yet vital, artery, formed by the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, defines the southern boundary between the two nations and provides the only outlet to the Persian Gulf for Iraq. Saddam likely believed that a swift, decisive military victory would not only eliminate the threat from the east but also solidify his leadership across the Arab world.
However, this agreement was deeply resented in Tehran, viewed not as a fair resolution but as a humiliation imposed by the Shah’s regime. The Spark of Revolution and Ideological Zeal The Islamic Revolution of 1979 fundamentally altered the geopolitical landscape of the region, creating a vacuum of fear and opportunity.
Saddam Hussein's Secular Threat and the Kurdish Insurgency
This profound misjudgment of both Iran’s will to fight and the international reaction to an unprovoked invasion proved to be the fatal flaw in his calculation. This left the Kurists exposed and, more importantly, removed one of Iraq’s key pretexts for war, allowing Saddam to present his invasion as a necessary act of national unity and defense.
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