Are Iran and Iraq Hostile? Here Are the Facts

TEHERAN – Is it true that Iran and Iraq are enemies? This kind of question may have crossed someone’s mind unintentionally because they were curious.

On the one hand, Iran and Iran have a number of similarities. In fact, the two regions are also quite close to each other.

However, on the other hand, both countries also have an unpleasant history. In addition to the differences in Islamic religious beliefs there, there are a number of other factors that made Iran and Iraq hostile to each other in the past.

Regardless, what is the current state of relations between Iran and Iraq? Here is a review.

Are Iran and Iraq really enemies?

Given the complex geopolitical landscape of the Middle East, the shift or change in relations between Iran and Iraq is an interesting topic to explore. Historically, the two were destined to be connected in various defining events.

Quoting MiddleEastCouncil, history records that cultural and religious relations in Iran and Iraq have been established for centuries. In addition, the two even once shared a border of almost 1,000 miles.

At one point, Tehran and Baghdad were involved in a territorial dispute, specifically over the strategic Shatt al-Arab river boundary for oil export routes. At that time, the conflict was resolved after Algerian President Houari Boumediene facilitated the signing of the 1975 Algiers Agreement.

However, things changed after the establishment of the Islamic Republic under Ayatollah Khomeini. That moment marked a profound ideological shift for Iran from a secular monarchy to an anti-Western theocratic regime.

Some time passed, the cracks in the Algiers Agreement began to appear after Iran withdrew its ambassador from Iraq in March 1980.

The following month, there were assassination attempts on Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz and Culture and Information Minister Latif Nusseif al-Jasim that were attributed to Iranian agents.