1979- Saddam Hussein becomes dictator of Iraq until 2003
1953- Iranians overthrow the Shah, set up a democracy
- US restores the Shah back to power. The Shah rules until 1979.
1979- Shah of Iran is overthrown a second time
- Set up Islamic Republic
- Iran is a theocracy (religious government)
- Took 33 Americans hostage
- Ayatollah Khomeini becomes leader of Iran
1980- Saddam Hussein invades Iran
- Believes Iraq will have an easy victory due to the chaos following Iran's revolution
- May have been a miscalculation- the war lasted 8 years with over a million deaths (about 300,000 Iraqis and 500,000+ Iranians) and no territory gained
- Desire to become dominant ruler in the Arab world
- Unite the Arab world
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