Editing Iran–Iraq War (section)

== Iran and Iraq's modern relationship ==
The relationship between Iraq and Iran has warmed immensely since the downfall of Saddam Hussein, out of mostly pragmatic interests, as they share a common enemy in the Islamic State. Significant military assistance has been provided by Iran to Iraq, resulting in Iran holding a large amount of political influence in Iraq's newly elected Shia government. Iraq is also heavily dependent on the relatively more stable and developed Iran for its energy needs, so a stable Iraq is an interest for Iran, foreign policy wise.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/iran-iraq-war-allies-us-between-1077536|title=Iran–Iraq War, 30 Years Later: From Foes to Allies with U.S. In Between|website=[[Newsweek]]|date=20 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031091207/https://www.newsweek.com/iran-iraq-war-allies-us-between-1077536|archive-date=31 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Mosque damage.JPG|thumb|Damage to a mosque in Khoramshahr, Iran, the city that was invaded by Iraq in September 1980|upright|right]]

The Iran–Iraq War is regarded as being a major trigger for rising sectarianism in the region, as it was viewed by many as a clash between Sunni Muslims<ref>{{Cite web|last=Review|first=Catholic|date=2012-01-19|title=Iraqi Christians were safer under Saddam|url=https://www.archbalt.org/iraqi-christians-were-safer-under-saddam/|access-date=2022-08-15|website=Archdiocese of Baltimore|language=en-US|archive-date=5 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705053332/https://www.archbalt.org/iraqi-christians-were-safer-under-saddam/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Iraqi Christians want a stronger state and weaker militias – opinion|url=https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-704986|access-date=2022-08-15|website=The Jerusalem Post |date=24 April 2022|language=en-US|archive-date=15 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815045824/https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-704986|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2010-11-01|title=Iraqi Christians' long history|language=en-GB|publisher=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-11669994|access-date=2022-08-15|archive-date=2 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602094242/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-11669994|url-status=live}}</ref> (Ba'athist Iraq and other Arab states) and the Shia revolutionaries that had recently taken power in Iran.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/iransource/reflecting-on-the-iran-iraq-war-thirty-years-later|title=Reflecting on the Iran–Iraq War, Thirty Years Later|last=Faily|first=Lukman|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031134536/http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/iransource/reflecting-on-the-iran-iraq-war-thirty-years-later|archive-date=2018-10-31|url-status=dead}}</ref> There remains lingering animosity however despite the pragmatic alliance that has been formed as multiple government declarations from Iran have stated that the war will "affect every issue of internal and foreign policy" for decades to come.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Tabatabai|first=Arianne|s2cid=57559579|date=Summer 2017|title=What the Iran–Iraq War Tells Us about the Future of the Iran Nuclear Deal|journal=International Security|volume=42|pages=152–185|doi=10.1162/ISEC_a_00286|via=EBSCO host}}</ref>

The sustained importance of this conflict is attributed mostly to its the massive human and economic cost, along with its ties to the Iranian Revolution.<ref name=":0" /> Another significant effect that the war has on Iran's policy is the issue of remaining war reparations. In 2004, the UN estimated that Iraq owed about $149&nbsp;billion, while Iran contended that, with both the direct and indirect effects taken into account, the cost of the war reached $1&nbsp;trillion.<ref name=":1">{{cite journal|last=Barzegar|first=Kayhan|year=2004|title=The New Iraqi Challenge to Iran|journal=The Iranian Hub}}</ref>

Iran has not vocalised the desire for these reparations in recent years, and has even suggested forms of financial aid.<ref name=":1" /> This is due most likely to Iran's interest in keeping Iraq politically stable, and imposing these reparation costs would further burden the already impoverished nation. The most important factor that governs Iraq's current foreign policy is the national government's consistent fragility following the overthrow of Saddam Hussein. Iraq's need for any and all allies that can help bring stability and bring development has allowed Iran to exert significant influence over the new Iraqi state despite lingering memories of the war.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Takeyh|first=Ray|s2cid=144891295|date=Summer 2010|title=The Iran–Iraq War: A Reassessment|journal=The Middle East Journal|volume=64|issue=3|pages=365–383|doi=10.3751/64.3.12}}</ref>

Currently, Iraq is between two opposing interests, one with Iran, who can provide a reliable source of power as well as military support to the influential Shia militias and political factions, and the other with the United States, who can offer Iraq significant economic aid packages, along with military support in the form of air and artillery strikes. If Iraq is seen to be pulled too far into one side's orbit, then the benefits offered to them by the other side will likely be gradually reduced or cut off completely. Another significant factor influencing relations is the shared cultural interests of Iraq and Iran's citizens to freely visit the multitude of holy sites located in each country.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Barzegar|first=Kayhan|title=Iran's Foreign Policy in Post-Invasion Iraq|date=Winter 2008|journal=Middle East Policy|volume=15|issue=4|pages=47–58|doi=10.1111/j.1475-4967.2008.00368.x}}</ref>