Iraqi soldiers march in formation past the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Baghdad, on “Great Victory Day,” during a formal ceremony marking the end of the long Iran-Iraq War. AFP
Iraqi soldiers march in formation past the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Baghdad, on “Great Victory Day,” during a formal ceremony marking the end of the long Iran-Iraq War. AFP

1980 - The Iran-Iraq War’s long aftermath

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Updated 19 April 2025
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1980 - The Iran-Iraq War’s long aftermath

1980 - The Iran-Iraq War’s long aftermath
  • One of the bloodiest conflicts in modern Middle Eastern history continues to shape the region over four decades later

LONDON: I joined the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office in September 1980, two weeks before Iraq invaded Iran and started the bloodiest war in modern Middle Eastern history. Perhaps a million combatants and uncounted civilians died. Four-and-a-half decades later, we still live with the consequences. 

There had always been tensions between the two countries but 1979 had really set the scene. That was the year that changed everything: the shah was overthrown in Iran; Juhayman Al-Otaibi seized Makkah’s Grand Mosque; in Pakistan, Zia-ul-Haq executed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto; an Islamist insurgency in Syria accelerated; and the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. These events ushered in a new and alarming era of turbulence and instability. 

For the Middle East, the subsequent outbreak of hostilities between Saddam Hussein’s Iraq and revolutionary Iran became the defining event of the period. It represented a clash between competing versions of modernity: the Baathist dream of mystical Arab nationalism, and Ruhollah Khomeini’s heterodox reimagining of Islamism, based on a mythical past and deriving legitimacy from a reactionary interpretation of clerical authority. Both systems were harshly repressive and each had their true believers. 

Iraq thought itself to be stronger, especially after the revolutionaries in Iran had purged the generals and Tehran’s traditional sources of military supplies in the West dried up. But Iran, surfing a wave of popular enthusiasm, proved more resilient than expected. The war became an attritional stalemate. Khomeini refused all appeals to bring the conflict to an end until he was finally forced to do so in 1988, after horrifying losses on both sides.

How we wrote it




The day after the conflict began, Arab News covered the outbreak, emphasizing the months of strained relations that culminated in the armed clashes.

For much of this period I had a ringside seat as a young diplomat in Abu Dhabi. The impact of the events on the Arab states of the Gulf was huge. They feared the expansion of the Iranian revolution into their territories. Article 154 of the new Iranian Constitution had committed Iran to pursuing exactly this. It had been put into effect partly through the activities of an organization linked to Ayatollah Hussein-Ali Montazeri, and partly through support channeled through what became Lebanese Hezbollah to dissident Shiite movements in Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in particular — whose activities included bombings and plane hijackings.

This was the most serious challenge to stability and cohesion that these states, most of which had only achieved independence between 1961 and 1971, had ever faced. Their domestic institutions and military capacities were still weak. And Iran represented both a material and an ideological threat. It is hardly surprising that they chose to financially support Iraq, which was Arab, Sunni-ruled, populous, educated and a familiar (if sometimes overbearing) neighbor. 

The end of the war in 1988 left Iraq with massive debts to other Gulf states, particularly Kuwait, and widespread damage to essential infrastructure, particularly in the south, around Basra, where most of the country’s oil fields are concentrated. 

Saddam decided to recoup his losses by bullying Kuwait, which refused to buckle. That led him to invade the country on Aug. 2, 1990. 

He might have thought he could do a deal that would have left him in control of Kuwait’s northern oil fields. Instead, he suffered a catastrophic defeat that left his military aspirations in tatters, his weapons programs subject to international supervision and the economy crippled by sanctions, which tore apart the fabric of Iraqi society. 

Key Dates

  • 1

    Following anti-government riots inspired by Iran’s Islamic Revolution, Iraq demands Iran withdraws its ambassador.

  • 2

    Iraq executes Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Baqir Al-Sadr, a supporter of Iran’s Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, and his sister.

    Timeline Image April 9, 1980

  • 3

    Iraqi militants linked to Iran assassinate several officials from Saddam Hussein’s Baath Party.

    Timeline Image April 1980

  • 4

    Saddam announces Iraq is withdrawing from the 1975 Algiers Accord, under which Iraq and Iran agreed to resolve their border disputes.

  • 5

    Iraqi Air Force bombs Iranian airfields. The following day Iraqi troops cross the border into Iran.

    Timeline Image Sept. 22-23, 1980

  • 6

    American frigate the USS Samuel B. Roberts hits a mine laid by Iran in the Gulf.

  • 7

    American warship USS Vincennes accidentally shoots down an Iranian airliner, killing all 290 people on board.

    Timeline Image July 3, 1988

  • 8

    Iran accepts UN Security Council Resolution 598, which calls for an end to the fighting and a return to prewar borders, and requests a ceasefire.

    Timeline Image July 17, 1988

  • 9

    Under pressure from the UN, US and Arab allies such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq finally agrees to ceasefire.

    Timeline Image Aug. 6, 1988

  • 10

    Resolution 598 comes into effect, ending the war.

  • 11

    Iran-Iraq peace talks begin.

  • 12

    The UN peacekeeping force sent to monitor the ceasefire in August 1988 finally withdraws.

The uprisings that followed in the Shiite south and the Kurdish north — neither of which were successful in a conventional sense — helped set the scene for the way in which Iraq reconstituted itself along sectarian and ethnic lines after Saddam’s eventual fall in 2003. 

In Iran, the myth of the war as one of exemplary national resistance at a time of isolation has endured powerfully, at least within the ranks of the regime and its supporters. It has fed a narrative of victimization that already had deep historic and cultural resonance among many Shiites. 

It also led Iran to double down on a strategy of so-called mosaic defense and proxy warfare, designed to compensate for conventional military weakness. It does not in any way seem to have reduced Tehran’s appetite for destroying Israel and ultimately bringing its neighbors under Islamist rule. 

The overthrow of Saddam in 2003 was widely seen as a belated sequel to 1991, when coalition forces had failed to follow the fleeing Iraqi army all the way to Baghdad and instead allowed Saddam and his loyalists to regain domestic control outside the Kurdish areas. 




Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, accompanied by army officials and soldiers, at the Iraq-Iran border during the Iran-Iraq War which lasted until 1988. AFP

The diplomatic maneuvering of the subsequent decade corrupted parts of the international system, with the oil-for-food scandal and persistent obstructionism by certain members of the UN Security Council. But 2003 was, in practice, a victory for Iran — as was the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001. 

And this story is not over. The Taliban is back in power in Afghanistan and the shadow of Daesh, which emerged from the chaos of Iraq, continues to haunt the region. In the wake of the dramatic events of the past year, which has seen Iran’s proxies in Lebanon and Gaza seriously weakened, and its investment in the Assad regime in Syria come to nothing, Tehran is perhaps more isolated than ever. 

And with the return to power in the US of President Donald Trump, who during his first term pulled the US out of the Iran nuclear deal and stepped up sanctions, life for the Iranian people is not likely to improve for the foreseeable future. 

If Ruhollah Khomeini had not been expelled from Najaf by Saddam Hussein in 1978; if the Shah had not had cancer; if Saddam had reacted more calmly to Iranian provocations in 1979; if Khomeini had agreed to a ceasefire after the recapture of Khorramshahr; if Saddam had not then gambled on an invasion of Kuwait; if Iran had become a more normal country, then we might be living in a different world. But we are not. More’s the pity. 

  • Sir John Jenkins is a senior fellow at Policy Exchange, where he has written extensively on Islamophobia and extremism. He was the British ambassador to Saudi Arabia until January 2015. 


BBC to investigate Arabic service over allegations of antisemitism

BBC to investigate Arabic service over allegations of antisemitism
Updated 7 min 42 sec ago
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BBC to investigate Arabic service over allegations of antisemitism

BBC to investigate Arabic service over allegations of antisemitism
  • The Telegraph reported last week that freelance contributors had made antisemitic comments or expressed support for Hamas

LONDON: The BBC is preparing to launch an independent investigation into its Arabic-language service following allegations that it has featured contributors accused of antisemitic remarks and support for Hamas.

BBC Chairman Dr. Samir Shah confirmed over the weekend that the corporation would appoint an external figure to lead a review into the broadcaster’s coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict and examine the issues raised by a recent report in The Telegraph.

“The Arabic service, we are looking at it, we’ve been examining it,” Shah told Times Radio. “I think this whole business of how we’ve covered Israel-Gaza is a proper thing to examine thoroughly, which is why we’re going to identify … we’re going to get hold of an independent figure to look at our coverage.”

According to BBC sources cited by UK media, the review will be “independent and published in full” and presented to the BBC board as part of a broader evaluation of its Middle East reporting.

Shah, who became chairman of the BBC in March 2024, said the corporation must remain vigilant regarding bias but maintained that the BBC continues to be a trusted source for impartial news.

The announcement follows a report by The Telegraph that some contributors to BBC Arabic had made antisemitic comments or expressed support for Hamas, a group proscribed as a terrorist organization by the UK, US, EU, and others, including Saudi Arabia.

One contributor, Gaza-based journalist Samer Elzaenen, reportedly posted in 2011 that Jews should be burned “as Hitler did.” Another, Ahmed Qannan, allegedly praised a 2022 shooter who killed five people in Israel and expressed hope that victims of a 2023 synagogue shooting would die.

The BBC has said that neither contributor is a member of staff but did not deny their appearances on air. Both are understood to be freelance contributors.

The broadcaster is also facing criticism over a recent documentary on the war in Gaza, after it was revealed that the narrator was the son of a Hamas government minister — information that was not disclosed in the film. The BBC said it was unaware of the familial connection at the time of production.

The documentary has since been removed from its on-demand platform pending a separate review.

The incident has reignited debate over the BBC’s editorial stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict, with critics on both sides accusing it of bias. Hundreds of media figures have defended the film, arguing that a narrator’s family connections should not disqualify them from participating or undermine their testimony and criticizing the BBC for pulling an “essential piece of journalism” that offers “a rare perspective on the lived experiences of Palestinians.”

The BBC, which has been marred by controversy since conflict broke out between Hamas and Israel in October 2023, has also faced political pressure over its decision not to label Hamas a terrorist organization in its reporting.

Defending the approach, Shah told Times Radio the BBC board had agreed to use the term only when it is attributed to a source, consistent with the broadcaster’s editorial guidelines.


Saudi Arabia leads MENA startup funding in April with $158.5m  

Saudi Arabia leads MENA startup funding in April with $158.5m  
Updated 14 min 30 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia leads MENA startup funding in April with $158.5m  

Saudi Arabia leads MENA startup funding in April with $158.5m  

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia led startup funding across the Middle East and North Africa in April 2025, attracting $158.5 million across eight deals — accounting for more than two-thirds of the region’s total investment for the month. 

The Kingdom’s dominant performance was largely driven by iMENA Group’s $135 million pre-initial public offering round, placing it ahead of the UAE, which followed with $62 million raised across nine startups. 

In total, MENA startups secured $228.4 million in April through 26 deals, marking a 105 percent increase from March and nearly triple the amount raised in April 2024, according to Wamda’s monthly report.  

Notably, the month’s funding activity featured no debt financing.

“Interestingly, the absence of debt-financed deals in April highlights growing investor confidence in equity-based funding — a trend reflecting a healthier capital environment,” the report stated.  

Morocco ranked third regionally, raising $4 million across two startups, while Egypt lagged behind with just $1.5 million secured by four companies. 

Early-stage ventures led in deal volume, bringing in $49 million through 20 transactions. Late-stage activity was concentrated entirely in iMENA’s pre-IPO round. 

By sector, fintech remained the top draw for investors, attracting $44 million across seven transactions. Traveltech also gained momentum, driven by HRA Experience’s deal, while e-commerce startups raised $2.5 million across three deals. 

Software-as-a-service ventures made a comeback after a quiet first quarter, securing $1.8 million from three transactions.  

In terms of business models, business-to-business startups dominated, raising $180 million across 12 deals.  

Business-to-consumer ventures followed with $43 million from seven transactions, while six companies operating both B2B and B2C models accounted for the rest of the disclosed funding. 

Gender disparities in startup funding persisted in April. Female-led startups secured less than $500,000 in total, while male-founded ventures captured 97 percent of all disclosed capital. Startups co-founded by men and women raised an additional $6.5 million. 


Pakistan takes journalists to Azad Kashmir to rebuff Indian allegations of militant training camps

Pakistan takes journalists to Azad Kashmir to rebuff Indian allegations of militant training camps
Updated 29 min 38 sec ago
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Pakistan takes journalists to Azad Kashmir to rebuff Indian allegations of militant training camps

Pakistan takes journalists to Azad Kashmir to rebuff Indian allegations of militant training camps
  • Indian media reports alleged presence of militant training camps in Bela Noor Shah and Pir Chinasi that New Delhi planned to target over Pahalgam attack
  • New Delhi blamed the attack on Pakistan, Islamabad has denied the charge and called for a credible, international probe to reveal facts about the attack

Bela Noor Shah, Azad Kashmir: Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Monday led local and foreign journalist to various sites in Azad Kashmir, where India alleges Pakistan has established militant training camps, describing the allegations as a “desperate attempt” by New Delhi to divert attention from its “internal failure” in an attack in Pahalgam.
Tensions between India and Pakistan have surged to alarming levels over the attack in Indian-administered Kashmir’s Pahalgam town that killed 26 tourists on Apr. 22. New Delhi has accused Islamabad of backing the perpetrators, an allegation Pakistan has vehemently denied and called for a credible, international probe to ascertain facts about the assault.
Subsequent Indian media reports alleged the presence of militant training camps in Azad Jammu and said India intended to target them in response to the Pahalgam attack. Tarar attempted to dismiss the Indian claims by taking a delegation of journalists to de facto border dividing the disputed Himalayan region to witness on-ground realities for themselves.
“There were numerous contradictions and inconsistencies in their [Indian] claims and they failed to substantiate them and we are proactively present at one of the locations India has alleged to be a terrorist camp,” Tarar told journalists at Bela Noor Shah, some 26 kilometers from Azad Kashmir’s capital of Muzaffarabad.
“The Indian allegations regarding the areas of Bela Noor Shah and Pir Chinasi in Azad Kashmir are fabricated and baseless as not only is the local population living a normal life [here], but educational institutions are [also] functioning and tourism is continuing as usual.”
Kashmir has been a flashpoint between India and Pakistan since their independence from Britain in 1947. The region is divided between the two countries, though both claim it in full and have fought two of their three wars over the disputed territory.
Since 1989, several Kashmiri groups have carried out attacks in Indian-administered Kashmir, seeking independence or a merger with Pakistan. India accuses Pakistan of supporting these groups, a charge Islamabad denies, insisting it offers only diplomatic and political support to Kashmiris.
Following the April 22 attack, public anger has swelled India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given his military “full operational freedom” to respond to the assault. There have been fears that India may conduct limited strikes close to its border with Pakistan.
Denying Pakistan’s involvement in the attack, Tarar criticized India for not providing any evidence to back up its claims and reiterated that India’s possible strikes against Pakistan will have a “forceful response.”
“Our desire for peace should not be mistaken for weakness as any Indian aggression will be met with a strong and forceful response — one they will remember for ages,” he said.
India has consistently attempted to defame Pakistan through “false propaganda” but all such efforts have failed to yield results, according to the Pakistani information minister.
It was evident from the visit of the media delegation, which was flown to Muzaffarabad from Islamabad and was later taken to the scenic town of Bela Noor Shah via jeeps.
Arab News team observed lush, serene hills of Azad Kashmir and business going on as usual in the town.
“This is a tourist spot and very peaceful area where people from all over Kashmir and Pakistan come for recreation,” Muzaffarabad Commissioner Ghuftar Hussain told Arab News at Bela Noor Shah.
Ameer Ali, a 23-year-old resident of the nearby Sawan Pani village who had come for recreation at the top of the hill, said he had never seen any militant camp in the area during his lifetime.
“I am a university student in Muzaffarabad and have frequently visited various places in the area with friends, but I have never seen any camps anywhere in these regions,” he told Arab News, adding that Kashmiris want peace, but they would fight alongside Pakistan Army if they were attacked by India.
“If India attacks us, Kashmiris will stand shoulder to shoulder with Pakistan Army and firmly resist any Indian aggression.”
Shafaat Qadri, a 45-year-old madressah teacher, said Bela Noor Shah had been nothing but a peaceful tourist spot.
“Today, I brought a visiting friend to this picnic spot who is here from Rawalakot University,” he said. “Visiting this place has been part of our routine, and if there were any suspicious activities here, they could not go unnoticed by the locals.”
Kashmiris have grown accustomed to such Indian allegations and they no longer “take them seriously,” Qadri added.


Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in green at 11,422 

Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in green at 11,422 
Updated 30 min 22 sec ago
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Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in green at 11,422 

Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in green at 11,422 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index rose on Monday, gaining 11.45 points, or 0.10 percent, to close at 11,422.95. 

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR5.21 billion ($1.39 billion), as 153 stocks advanced, while 84 retreated. 

The Kingdom’s parallel market, Nomu, also rose, gaining 129.67 points, or 0.46 percent, to close at 28,142.99. This comes as 41 of the listed stocks advanced, while 33 retreated. 

The MSCI Tadawul Index increased by 4.27 points, or 0.29 percent, to close at 1,455.44. 

The best-performing stock was Mouwasat Medical Services Co., with its share price surging 9.97 percent to SR78.30. 

Other top performers included Fawaz Abdulaziz Alhokair Co., which saw its share price rise 9.92 percent to SR14.18, and Saudi Reinsurance Co., which posted a 9.71 percent gain to reach SR53.10. 

Umm Al Qura for Development and Construction Co. recorded the day’s steepest decline, with its share price slipping 3.47 percent to SR25.05.   

Sahara International Petrochemical Co. and Saudi Steel Pipe Co. also saw declines, with their shares dropping by 2.82 percent and 2.58 percent to SR17.90 and SR52.90, respectively.   

On the announcements front, Ades Holding Co. reported interim financial results for the first three months of the year, posting a net profit of SR196.6 million — a 6.3 percent decline compared to the previous quarter. It said that the drop in net profit reflects an increased ratio of depreciation and tax costs to revenue in this period.   

The company’s total comprehensive income saw a 45.7 percent quarter-on-quarter decrease in the first quarter of 2025 to reach SR170.8 million.  

Ades Holding Co.’s share price traded 0.94 percent lower on the main market during today’s session to reach SR14.78.   

In another announcement, Makkah Construction and Development Co. reported a 32.7 percent year-on-year increase in net profit for the same period, reaching SR150 million.   

The company credited the growth to higher revenues from the hotel and towers this quarter, driven by the inclusion of the last nine days of Ramadan, increased mall revenues, and gains from financial assets classified at fair value through profit or loss.   

Similarly, the company’s total comprehensive income rose to SR758 during the quarter, up from SR576 last year.   

The MCDC’s share price traded 1.5 percent higher to reach SR108.20. 


Riyadh International Industry Week 2025 to feature 524 exhibitors from 20 countries

Riyadh International Industry Week 2025 to feature 524 exhibitors from 20 countries
Updated 12 min 10 sec ago
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Riyadh International Industry Week 2025 to feature 524 exhibitors from 20 countries

Riyadh International Industry Week 2025 to feature 524 exhibitors from 20 countries
  • Event will cover an area of 20,550 sq. meters and be the largest industrial gathering in the region
  • Activities will include live demonstrations of the latest industrial technologies

RIYADH: The Saudi capital will host “Riyadh International Industry Week 2025” under the patronage of the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center from May 12 to 15. 

It will feature more than 524 exhibitors from around the world, with an expected attendance of over 25,000 visitors, including specialists and those interested in the industrial sector, according to a press release issued by the organizer.

The event will cover an area of 20,550 sq. meters and be the largest industrial gathering in the region, bringing together more than 48,000 products and advanced technologies under one roof. 

It will include national pavilions representing major industrial countries, while the activities will feature speakers and experts, with more than 60 speakers presenting strategic insights in more than 20 sessions and specialized workshops.

The exhibition agenda includes several strategic themes that will highlight the latest global trends in the industrial sector and provide a platform for dialogue with experts, investors, and decision-makers. 

Activities will include live demonstrations of the latest industrial technologies, along with highlighting government initiatives aimed at supporting and empowering the sector, while highlighting key enablers of the industrial environment in the Kingdom.

The events will be spread over four specialized industrial exhibitions. The “Saudi Plastics and Petrochemicals Exhibition,” in its 20th edition, will celebrate its history of supporting these industries and offer a comprehensive platform to show the latest innovations and sustainable solutions. 

The event will also host the “Saudi Print and Pack Exhibition,” featuring the latest advances in printing technology and smart packaging solutions.

It will feature the “Saudi Smart Logistics Exhibition,” highlighting the latest solutions in material handling, storage, and supply chains.

The journey of innovation will continue through the “Saudi Smart Manufacturing Exhibition” dedicated to automation and digital transformation solutions for industrial facilities in the Kingdom.

The Industry Week is a major platform for empowering the national industrial sector and exploring future opportunities in supply chains and advanced technologies. 

It represents an extension of the Kingdom’s longstanding efforts to support national priorities in the industrial sector. It will foster international partnerships, facilitate knowledge transfer, and present innovative solutions that enhance industrial competitiveness regionally and globally, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.