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Starter… guess the main reasons why there was
conflict in the Gulf ( click images for details )
 Saddam Hussein

Saddam Hussein was a key individual and a major cause of increasing the tensions
in the Gulf. He became President of Iraq in 1979. He was against the West and its
historic influence in the Arab world. Saddam was also ruthless even against his
own people, including other groups of Muslims. The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in
1990 led to a war with the US who was backed by a multi -national force including
other Arab countries such as Jordan.
National Identity
Thousands of years ago, the Gulf region was once the home of powerful,
ancient civilisation of Mesopotamia and the state of Babylon.

More recently, Abbasid caliphs established the city of Baghdad

( modern day Iraq ) in 762 CE. Baghdad became a centre of culture
and learning during the Golden Age of Islam.

Over time and foreign powers increased their control in the area
through of war, conquest and later oil.

But … national and regional pride and a return to independence grew

throughout the 20th century.

Saudi Arabia – became a nation state in 1932.

Iran – nationalised its oil industry in 1951.
Iraq – the rise of Saddam + Baath Party = ‘ Rebirth of Arab Power’
 Iran – The Ayatollah
Before 1979 Iran had been ruled by a Shah – this was the title given to the king or
emperor of Iran. The Shah had been of supportive of working with the British and
allowing a joint Anglo – Persian Oil company to share the profits from Iran’s oil. Most
Iranians did not agree with this policy and support for the Shah decreased. Following a
wave of strikes, protests and then brutal response from the Shah’s forces ( 500
demonstrators were killed and mullahs tortured ) – calls for the removal of the Shah
grew louder. In January 1979, the Shah left Iran to receive medical treatment and would
never return. In his absence, Khomeini ( to become Ayatollah ) took over and an Islamic
republic was born. Khomeini was anti-West and for the spreading of a stricter form of
Islam across the region.

1908 1951 1951- 53 1979

Anglo – Persian Oil Company Iran’s oil industry is British pressure on the Islamic
Formed nationalised Shah revolution

British found oil in Iran – the
British pay Iran's government
and are allowed to take Iranian
oil.
The Iranian government takes full The British blockade Iran's ports and
control over its oil – angering the then engineer the removal of anti-
British. British leaders in Iran. The Shah is
pressured to work more closely with the
West.
Mullahs and other lead the criticisms
of the Shah and his policies.
Khomeini will become the ‘supreme
leader.’
Oil in the Gulf
The Persian Gulf is one of the most abundant producers of oil in the
world. Almost two thirds of all oil is located here. Oil had not only
made many Gulf countries very wealthy – and helped powerful leaders
establish themselves – but also created a reliance on Gulf oil in the West
and beyond. Any change to the oil supply ( or even just the price ) was a
great threat to countries such as the USA, France and Britain.

1938 1973 1980

After the United States supported
The Americans first Israel in the war against Egypt,
discover oil in Dammam, Arab counties stopped supplying
Saudi Arabia. the US with oil – this created an
energy crisis there.
The start of the Iran – Iraq war
after Iraq invaded Iran. One
reason for this was that the Iraqi
leaders, Saddam Hussein wanted
to take the oil fields in south west
Iran.
The Creation of Israel
During the Second World War, Adolf Hitler had attempted to
eliminate all the Jews in Europe - The Holocaust. After Hitler
and the Nazis were defeated and the horrors of the
concentration camps exposed - there was increased
sympathy and focus on the Jewish population in Europe. As
a result, the state of Israel was created – in the ancestral
homeland of the Jewish people.
Significantly, Israel was created in
1948 from lands occupied by
Arabs, who … were unsurprisingly
opposed to this idea – surrounded
by hostile neighbours, Israel got
support from the USA, both with
money and advanced military
equipment.
Religion
Islam All Muslims are followers of Islam. Religious differences were a
cause for division between
They believe in Allah ( God )and that Muhammad – PBUH was a
prophet – chosen messenger of Allah. the Arab / Muslim world
and the West.

Significantly, the Muslim

Sunni The majority in the region – but minority in Iraq. world was also divided.
Muslims ( about 90% of Muslims today are Sunni ) This was mainly because
there were two Muslim
They believe that the ruler after the prophet’s death in 632 CE groups – Sunni and Shia.
should have been Abu Bakr, a trusted friend of Muhammad.
Their differences originate
largely from political rule
rather than any significant
Shia / The minority in the Gulf and wider region – BUT the majority in difference in religious
Shiite Iran. Believed that Ali, the son-in law of Muhammad was the
belief.
Muslims rightful leader after the his death in 632 CE.