Editing Iran–Iraq War (section)

===Early international response===
In April 1982, the rival [[Ba'athist]] regime in [[Syria]], one of the few nations that supported Iran, closed the [[Kirkuk–Baniyas pipeline]] that had allowed Iraqi oil to reach tankers on the Mediterranean, reducing the Iraqi budget by $5&nbsp;billion per month.<ref name=efraimkarsh /> Journalist Patrick Brogan wrote, "It appeared for a while that Iraq would be strangled economically before it was defeated militarily."<ref name=brogan89>{{cite book|last=Brogan|first=Patrick|title=World Conflicts: A Comprehensive Guide to World Strife Since 1945|year=1989|publisher=Bloomsbury|location=London|isbn=0-7475-0260-9}}</ref>{{rp|260|date=November 2012}} Syria's closure of the Kirkuk–Baniyas pipeline left Iraq with the pipeline to [[Turkey]] as the only means of exporting oil, along with transporting oil by tanker truck to the [[port of Aqaba]] in Jordan.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Murray|first1=Williamson|last2=Woods|first2=Kevin M.|title=The Iran–Iraq War, A Military and Strategic History|chapter=1983–1984: A war of attrition|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|year=2014|isbn=978-1107062290|pages=252–253 (e-book, page numbers approximate)}}</ref>

The Turkish pipeline had a capacity of only {{convert|500000|oilbbl/d|m3/d}}, which was insufficient to pay for the war.<ref name=bulloch89>{{cite book|last1=Bulloch|first1=John|last2=Morris|first2=Harvey|title=The Gulf War: Its Origins, History and Consequences|year=1989|publisher=Methuen|location=London|isbn=978-0-413-61370-7|edition=1st published|url=https://archive.org/details/gulfwaritsorigin00bull}}</ref>{{rp|160|date=November 2012}} Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the other Gulf states saved Iraq from bankruptcy<ref name=efraimkarsh /> by providing it with $37–60&nbsp;billion in loans.<ref name=brogan89 /><ref name="ISGfunding" /><ref>{{Citation|title=The Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988)|date=2019|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/threats-and-alliances-in-the-middle-east/iraniraq-war-19801988/1855A877B8E863D2DD733A09F7A9EBA2|work=Threats and Alliances in the Middle East: Saudi and Syrian Policies in a Turbulent Region|pages=54–91|editor-last=Darwich|editor-first=May|access-date=2023-11-14|place=Cambridge|publisher=Cambridge University Press|doi=10.1017/9781108656689.004|isbn=978-1-108-49362-8}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Gulf War, 1991|url=https://history.state.gov/milestones/1989-1992/gulf-war|access-date=14 November 2023|archive-date=8 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108074144/https://history.state.gov/milestones/1989-1992/gulf-war|url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|263|date=November 2012}}{{clarify|date=October 2012|reason=Each or total?}} Though Iraq had previously been hostile towards other Gulf states, "the threat of Persian fundamentalism was far more feared."<ref name=bulloch89 />{{rp|162–163|date=November 2012}}<ref name=brogan89 />{{rp|263|date=November 2012}} They were especially inclined to fear Iranian victory after Ayatollah Khomeini declared monarchies to be illegitimate and an un-Islamic form of government.<ref name=efraimkarsh /> Khomeini's statement was widely received as a call to overthrow the Gulf monarchies.<ref name=efraimkarsh /> Journalists John Bulloch and Harvey Morris wrote:

<blockquote>The virulent Iranian campaign, which at its peak seemed to be making the overthrow of the Saudi regime a war aim on a par with the defeat of Iraq, did have an effect on the Kingdom [of Saudi Arabia], but not the one the Iranians wanted: instead of becoming more conciliatory, the Saudis became tougher, more self-confident, and less prone to seek compromise.<ref name=bulloch89 />{{rp|163|date=November 2012}}</blockquote>

Saudi Arabia was said to provide Iraq with $1&nbsp;billion per month starting in mid-1982.<ref name=bulloch89 />{{rp|160|date=November 2012}}

Iraq began receiving support from the United States and Western Europe. Saddam was given diplomatic, monetary, and military support by the United States, including massive loans, political influence, and intelligence on Iranian deployments gathered by American spy satellites.<ref name="iranchamber-armingiraq" /> By relying heavily on American satellite footage and radar planes to detect and counter Iranian troop movements.<ref name=williams02>{{cite thesis|url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA405987.pdf|last=Williams|first=Scott|publisher=Naval Postgraduate School|location=Monterey, CA|date=June 2002|title=The Battle of al-Khafji|degree=Master's|access-date=21 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413142907/http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA405987|archive-date=13 April 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

With Iranian success on the battlefield, the United States increased its support of the Iraqi government, supplying intelligence, economic aid, and [[dual-use technology|dual-use]] equipment and vehicles, as well as normalising relations (which had been broken during the 1967 [[Six-Day War]]).<ref name=iranchamber-armingiraq /> In March 1982, president [[Ronald Reagan]] signed National Security Study Memorandum (NSSM) 4-82—seeking "a review of U.S. policy toward the Middle East"—and in June Reagan signed a National Security Decision Directive (NSDD) co-written by NSC official [[Howard Teicher]], which determined: "The United States could not afford to allow Iraq to lose the war to Iran",<ref name="Yaphe">{{cite book|last=Yaphe|first=Judith|title=The Iran–Iraq War: New International Perspectives|chapter=Changing American Perspectives on the Iran–Iraq war|publisher=[[Routledge]]|year=2013|isbn=9780415685245}}</ref><ref name="nsarchiv">Battle, Joyce. [http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB82/index.htm Shaking Hands with Saddam Hussein: The U.S. Tilts toward Iraq, 1980–1983 ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204034420/http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB82/index.htm |date=2012-02-04 }}, ''National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 82''. George Washington University National Security Archive, 25 February 2003.</ref> and that the United States "would do whatever was necessary to prevent Iraq from losing".<ref>{{cite journal|title=Declaration of Howard Teicher|journal=Case No. 93-241-CR-HIGHSMITH|publisher=United States District Court: Southern District Florida|date=31 January 1995|url=http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB82/iraq61.pdf|access-date=4 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120526041432/http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB82/iraq61.pdf|archive-date=26 May 2012|url-status=live}} [http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article1413.htm . Plain text version] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130423034232/http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article1413.htm |date=23 April 2013 }}</ref>

In 1982, Reagan removed Iraq from the list of countries "supporting terrorism" and sold weapons such as [[howitzer]]s to Iraq via Jordan.<ref name="iranchamber-armingiraq" /> France sold Iraq millions of dollars worth of weapons, including [[Gazelle helicopters]], Mirage F-1 fighters, and [[Exocet]] missiles. Both the United States and [[West Germany]] sold Iraq dual-use pesticides and poisons that would be used to create [[chemical weapon]]s.<ref name="iranchamber-armingiraq" />

Iran lacked funds for comparable purchases. They counted on China, [[North Korea]], [[Libya]], [[Ba'athist Syria|Syria]], and Japan for supplying anything from weapons and munitions to logistical and engineering equipment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/values.php|title=Importer/Exporter TIV Tables|website=armstrade.sipri.org|access-date=13 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125105813/http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/values.php|archive-date=25 November 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Ceasefire proposal====
On 20 June 1982, Saddam announced that he wanted to [[sue for peace]] and proposed an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal from Iranian territory within two weeks.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/10/world/iraq-vows-to-quit-iran-fight-israel.html Iraq Vows to Quit Iran, Fight Israel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116212956/https://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/10/world/iraq-vows-to-quit-iran-fight-israel.html |date=16 November 2018 }} AP 10 June 1982</ref> Khomeini responded by saying the war would not end until a new government was installed in Iraq and reparations paid.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/22/world/iran-says-iraqis-withdrawal-won-t-end-war.html Iran Says Iraqis' Withdrawal Won't End War ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023202305/http://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/22/world/iran-says-iraqis-withdrawal-won-t-end-war.html |date=23 October 2017}} New York Times 22 June 1982</ref> He proclaimed that Iran would invade Iraq and would not stop until the Ba'ath regime was replaced by an [[Islamic republic]].<ref name=efraimkarsh /><ref name=Viewpoints /> Iran supported a [[government in exile]] for Iraq, the [[Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq]], led by exiled Iraqi cleric [[Mohammad Baqer al-Hakim]], which was dedicated to overthrowing the Ba'ath party. They recruited POWs, dissidents, exiles, and Shias to join the [[Badr Organization|Badr Brigade]], the military wing of the organisation.<ref name="Farrokh 03" />

The decision to invade Iraq was taken after much debate within the Iranian government.<ref name=efraimkarsh /> One faction, comprising Prime Minister [[Mir-Hossein Mousavi]], Foreign Minister [[Ali Akbar Velayati]], President [[Ali Khamenei]],<ref name="mearsheimer02">{{cite web|last1=Mearsheimer|first1=John J.|last2=Walt|first2=Stephen M.|date=12 November 2002|title=Can Saddam Be Contained? History Says Yes|url=http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/3114/can_saddam_be_contained_history_says_yes.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118033437/http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/3114/can_saddam_be_contained_history_says_yes.html|archive-date=18 January 2008|work=International Security|publisher=Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs}}</ref> Army Chief of Staff General Ali Sayad Shirazi as well as Major General Qasem-Ali Zahirnejad, wanted to accept the ceasefire, as most of Iranian soil had been recaptured.<ref name=efraimkarsh /> In particular, General Shirazi and Zahirnejad were both opposed to the invasion of Iraq on logistical grounds, and stated they would consider resigning if "unqualified people continued to meddle with the conduct of the war".<ref name=efraimkarsh />{{rp|38}} Of the opposing view was a hardline faction led by the clerics on the [[Supreme National Security Council|Supreme Defence Council]], whose leader was the politically powerful speaker of the ''[[Majlis of Iran|Majlis]]'', [[Akbar Rafsanjani]].<ref name=efraimkarsh />

Iran also hoped that its attacks would ignite a revolt against Saddam's rule by the Shia and Kurdish population of Iraq, possibly resulting in his downfall. It was successful in doing so with the Kurdish population, but not the Shia.<ref name="Farrokh 03" /> Iran had captured large quantities of Iraqi equipment, enough to create several tank battalions, Iran once again had 1,000 tanks, and also managed to clandestinely procure spare parts as well, including those pertaining to the F-14 Tomcat.<ref name=pollack04 /><ref>{{Citation|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-07-16-mn-6838-story.html|title=Navy Theft Ring Linked to Iran Undetected for Years|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1985-07-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223012608/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-07-16-mn-6838-story.html|archive-date=2022-12-23}}</ref>

At a cabinet meeting in Baghdad, [[Minister of Health (Iraq)|Minister of Health]] Riyadh Ibrahim Hussein suggested that Saddam could step down temporarily as a way of easing Iran towards a ceasefire, and then afterwards would come back to power. Saddam, annoyed, asked if anyone else in the Cabinet agreed with the Health Minister's idea. When no one raised their hand in support, he escorted Riyadh Hussein to the next room, closed the door, and shot him with his pistol.<ref name=bulloch89 />{{rp|147|date=November 2012}}