Իրաքը որպես տարածաշրջանային խաղացող մինչև Ծոցի առաջին պատերազմը

<jats:p>Prior to the First Gulf War, the Republic of Iraq sought to establish itself as a leading regional power in the Middle East, relying on its authoritarian political system and considerable military capabilities. The 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran introduced new geopolitical challenges for Arab states with significant Shiite populations. The Iraqi leadership attempted to exploit these developments to advance its regional ambitions and to position Iraq as a bulwark against the spread of Iran’s revolutionary ideology. In return, Saddam Hussein expected political, economic, and financial support from the Arab monarchies of the Persian Gulf. Nevertheless, the war ultimately failed to achieve Iraq’s principal political objectives. Methods and Materials: The study employs historical-comparative, political, and socio-economic approaches. The research is based on official agreements involving Iraq, the USSR, and the United States, archival materials from the United Nations, as well as scholarly publications and analytical works by Western, Armenian, and inter-national researchers. Analysis: The article examines the political and strategic motivations underlying the Iran–Iraq War and analyzes the objectives pursued by both belligerents. Particular attention is devoted to Saddam Hussein’s efforts to strengthen Iraq’s position as a dominant regional actor and to the ambitions of the Islamic Republic of Iran to expand its revolutionary influence across the Middle East. At the conclusion of the eight-year conflict, both states returned to their pre-war borders, while Iraq faced a severe economic crisis caused by mounting debt. Saddam Hussein failed to achieve most of his political objectives, with the preservation of his regime remaining his only significant success. In an attempt to alleviate economic pressures, divert domestic discontent, and consolidate his rule, Iraq subsequently invaded Kuwait. The experience of the Iran–Iraq War demonstrates that external support and short-term political calculations may temporarily strengthen a regime, but they cannot ensure long-term stability in the absence of effective state institutions and sustainable economic development.</jats:p>