Editing Iran–Iraq War (section)

===Iran===
{{See also|Israel's role in the Iran–Iraq war|North Korean support for Iran during the Iran–Iraq War}}
While the United States directly fought Iran, citing [[freedom of navigation]] as a major ''[[casus belli]]'', it also indirectly supplied some weapons to Iran as part of a complex and illegal programme that became known as the [[Iran–Contra affair]]. These secret sales were partly to help secure the release of hostages held in [[Lebanon]], and partly to make money to help the [[Contras]] rebel group in [[Nicaragua]]. This arms-for-hostages agreement turned into a major scandal.

[[Israel]] supported Iran in its war against Iraq through the supply of military equipment including spare parts for fighter jets, missile systems, ammunition and tank engines.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Seale|first=Patrick|date=2 November 1980|title=Israel sends spares for US arms to Iran|page=9|work=The Observer|location=London}}</ref> Israel's motivations for supporting Iran stemmed from a fear of what would have become if Iraq came out victorious and as an opportunity to create business for the Israeli arms industry.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Marshall|first1=Jonathan|url=https://archive.org/details/irancontraconnec00mars|title=The Iran–Contra Connection: Secret Teams and Covert Operations in the Reagan Era|last2=Scott|first2=Peter Dale|last3=Hunter|first3=Jane|date=1987|publisher=Black Rose Books Ltd.|isbn=978-0-921689-15-7}}</ref>

North Korea was a [[North Korean support for Iran during the Iran–Iraq War|major arms supplier to Iran]], often acting as a third party in arms deals between Iran and the Communist bloc. Support included domestically manufactured arms and Eastern-Bloc weapons, for which the major powers wanted [[deniability]]. [[International aid to combatants in the Iran–Iraq War|Among the other arms suppliers and supporters]] of Iran's Islamic Revolution, the major ones were Libya, Syria, and China. According to the Stockholm International Peace Institute, China was the largest foreign arms supplier to Iran between 1980 and 1988.<ref>[http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/values.php SIPRI Database] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728025517/http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/values.php |date=28 July 2011 }} Indicates that of $5,044&nbsp;million of arms exported to Iran from 1980 to 1988 China count for $1,958&nbsp;million (Info must be entered)</ref>

Syria and Libya, breaking Arab solidarity, supported Iran with arms, rhetoric and diplomacy.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Terrill|first=W. Andrew|title=Iran's Strategy for Saving Asad|date=Spring 2015|journal=[[Middle East Journal]]|publisher=[[Middle East Institute]]|volume=69|issue=2|pages=222–236|doi=10.3751/69.2.13|s2cid=142964464|url-access=}}</ref> However, Libya then distanced itself from Iran from 1987, criticising Tehran's attitude and restoring diplomatic relations with Iraq.<ref name="LeMonde1">{{cite web|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1987/09/12/la-libye-reequilibre-sa-position-au-profit-de-l-irak_4051052_1819218.html|title=La Libye 'rééquilibre' sa position au profit de l'Irak|website=[[Le Monde]]|date=12 September 1987|access-date=11 March 2023|language=French|archive-date=11 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311223734/https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1987/09/12/la-libye-reequilibre-sa-position-au-profit-de-l-irak_4051052_1819218.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="LeMonde2">{{cite web|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1987/04/25/la-guerre-du-golfe-le-colonel-kadhafi-critique-la-france-et-l-iran_4054912_1819218.html|title=La guerre du Golfe Le colonel Kadhafi critique la France et l'Iran|website=[[Le Monde]]|date=25 April 1987|access-date=11 March 2023|language=French|archive-date=11 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311223734/https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1987/04/25/la-guerre-du-golfe-le-colonel-kadhafi-critique-la-france-et-l-iran_4054912_1819218.html|url-status=live}}</ref>