What is Iran–Iraq War?
[[File: Iran Iraq War Start Attack on Tehran Airport 1980-09-22.jpg|thumb|Explosion in Mehrabad Air Base in [[Tehran]] after Iraqi forces attacked Tehran on [[September 22]], [[1980]]]] The '''Iran–Iraq War''' was a [[war]] between the armed forces of [[Iraq]] and [[Iran]] lasting from September 1980 to August 1988. It began when Iraq invaded Iran on 22 September 1980, after a long [[history]] of [[border dispute]]s and after Iran demanded the overthrow of [[Saddam Hussein]]'s regime. Iraqi forces did well at the beginning of the war, taking Iranian [[Khuzestan province]], but they were stopped and forced out of Iran before long. The war continued for years, and neither side gained much ground in the resulting [[trench warfare]]. About a million soldiers died, and a similar number of [[civilian]]s. Both sides used [[blockade]], which other countries opposed. Despite several calls for an end to the fighting by the [[United Nations Security Council]], the two [[country|countries]] fought until 20 August 1988; the last prisoners of war were exchanged in 2003. The war changed [[politics]] in the [[Middle East]] and [[earth|worldwide]]. The Iran–Iraq War is also noted for Iraq's use of [[chemical weapon]]s and [[biological weapon]]s against Iranian [[soldier|troops]] and [[civilian]]s. The role of the [[United States]] and [[Soviet Union]] was vital, dating back to the [[Cold War]]. In 1953, the US encouraged a [[coup d'état]] against [[Mohammad Mosaddegh]], who was the [[Prime Minister]] of Iran. [[Shah]] [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi]] returned to power, supporting his [[military]] and his [[government]]. The United States sold many weapons to the Shah's government. Meanwhile, revolutionaries of the [[Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party]] overthrew the king of Iraq and, with the help of the [[Soviet Union]], built up their army. Starting with the [[United Arab Republic]], they sought to unite all the Arabs into one [[state]], including the Arab minority in Iran. After the war started (especially between 1983 and 1988), the Unit