The Role of Border Agreements in Shaping Iran-Iraq Conflicts (A Case Study of the 1975 Algiers Agreement)

This research examines the role of border agreements in shaping the conflicts between Iran and Iraq, with a particular focus on the 1975 Algiers Agreement. Iran and Iraq, as two neighbors with a long history of political and cultural relations, have consistently been affected by border disputes rooted in Ottoman-era treaties and geopolitical transformations in the region. The 1975 Algiers Agreement, aimed at resolving disputes over the Shatt al-Arab and delineating land and river boundaries, marked a significant turning point in their relations. However, the hostile policies of Iraq's Ba'ath regime and the unilateral annulment of the agreement by Saddam Hussein diverted it from its original objective and exacerbated tensions. The analysis of findings reveals that despite providing a legal framework for border management, the 1975 agreement failed to stabilize relations due to incomplete implementation, political provocations, and external interventions. Iraq, under pretexts of historical and geopolitical claims, annulled the agreement after Iran's Islamic Revolution, paving the way for the eight-year-long Iran-Iraq War. This study emphasizes that borders, as fixed geopolitical elements, can become sources of instability when influenced by political and security developments. The study concludes that effective management of border disputes requires sustainable legal frameworks, international oversight, and regional cooperation. The experience of Iran and Iraq demonstrates that deficiencies in the implementation of border agreements, coupled with their political exploitation, can transform them from tools for reducing tension into catalysts for war and regional instability. These findings can serve as a model for managing border disputes in other regions of the world.