Iran – Iraq: The Shatt al-Arab
waterway
The
Shatt al-Arab River forms the boundaries between Iran and Iraq before flowing
into the Persian Gulf. Due to its strategic importance for both Iraq and Iran,
for centuries both countries have defended their sovereignty rights over the
river. The Shatt al-Arab dispute was an important cause which led to the
outbreak of the 1980-1988 war between Iraq and Iran.
Conflict
History
The
delimitation of the Shatt al-Arab River has been a point of contention between
the co-riparians for centuries. Tensions due to incompatible sovereignty claims
over the river escalated in the 1960s and led to a full-scale war between Iran
and Iraq from 1980 to 1988. Recently, after centuries of dispute, bilateral
strains have been normalised and the co-riparians have concluded an agreement
on both the delimitation and the joint management of the Shatt al-Arab River.
Strategic importance of the Shatt
al-Arab River for both Iran and Iraq
The
Shatt al-Arab River is formed by the confluence of the Euphrates and the Tigris
Rivers in Iraq. The river constitutes the border between Iraq and Iran on the
last 50 miles of the river and continues to flow down to the Persian Gulf.
Being the only access point of Iraq to the Persian Gulf, the Shatt al-Arab
River has a strategic importance for the country’s transportation and exports.
Moreover, given the dry and humid climate in this part of the Middle East, the
water from the river is crucial for agriculture. Although Iran has other
accesses to the Gulf, a high quantity of crude oil produced in Iran is
transported through the Shatt al-Arab River.
In
addition to that, this river also symbolises a cultural line between Persians
and Arabs. This boundary illustrates the many fault lines between Iran and
Iraq: Shi’a vs. Sunni Government; heir of Persian Empire vs. heir of Ottoman
Empire; Fundamentalist/Secular Government.
The delimitation of the Shatt
al-Arab River’s borders has been a point of contention between Ottomans and
Persians for centuries and both empires have sought to control it. After the
Second World War, and the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, the dispute
shifted to an Iraq-Iran conflict.
Not only Iran – Iraq: The United Kingdom
The British government was involved in the issue ever since
1847, when the treaty of Erzerum of May 31, 1847 was negotiated and signed
between representatives of Iran and Ottoman Empire as the main parties as well
as the representatives of Russia and Great Britain.
Later, during demarcation of frontiers of these two
countries, which was dragged on until 1913-14, the British played a crucial
role. The dispute over the Waterway flowing between Iran and Iraq called
"Shatt - al - Arab", was an issue involving Iran - Iraqi relations.
After the First World War as a successor state, but as until 1932 the British
government had a mandate over Iraq, it was the Anglo - Iranian diplomacy which
served instead.
During the negotiations between Iran and Ottoman Empire in
1845-47, British and Russian representatives, as two rival powers pursuing
their own interests, participated in the negotiations, and as a party to the
dispute tried to influence the outcome, that i s to say, the British supported
the Ottoman’s arguments and the Russian supported the Iranian side. Later on,
by submitting a partial comment on the treaty provisions in favour of the Ottoman
Empire, the treaty itself became a source of dispute between the two parties.
Iraq-Iran:
from Water Dispute to War
A Historical Review of British Role in
Iran-Iraqi Dispute on the Shatt-al-Arab Waterway
Jorge Emilio Núñez
Twitter: @London1701
16th November 2018
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