Abstract:
This article attempts to answer the question whether Iran
would have not been internationally isolated, and Iraq would have
not invaded Iran as a consequence, if the U.S. embassy had not been
taken over. In other words, if Iran had not taken over the U.S.
embassy, would have Iraq refrained from invading Iran? To answer
the above-mentioned question, the author analyzes the statements of
those who had a pivotal role in the seizure of the U.S. embassy. The
analysis of part of their statements reveals that U.S. embassy’s
takeover led to the international isolation of Iran and gave Iraq the
opportunity to take advantage of the situation to attack Iran. Two
other important issues deserve attention. First, Iraq did have the
intention of invading Iran, yet the isolation of Iran paved the way for
Iraqi invasion. Second, the seizure of the U.S. embassy led Iraq to
invade Iran. Having analyzed the above alternatives, the author
maintains that analyzing the break out of war with a focus on the role
and impact of the U.S. embassy takeover is considered as an internal
approach, influenced by political considerations and had nothing to
do with Iraq’s policies. The reason lies the break out of war is an
outcome of many factors and issues. In fact, the Iraqiinvasion of Iran
had been formed during a lengthy process, and the international
isolation of Iran had been already formed by the triumphant
Revolution and by challenging American interests in Iran.
Machine summary:
"Takeover of US embassy on November 4, 1979 has been mentioned as a major reason for Iraq's invasion of Iran.
v'For example, Mansour Farhang, professor of political science at University of Vermont in the United States in an interview said that, "The most telling symbol of thought and deed of (Imam) Khomeini in foreign relations, was taking the American diplomats as hostage, which resulted in international isolation of Iran and paved the way for Iraq's invasion of the country.
S. embassy by the Iranian students led to international isolation of Iran and Iraq exploited that situation to good effect.
Some people, who talk about the role of American embassy's takeover in kindling the Iraq-Iraq war, are under mental impression that after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, Iran was planning to mend fences with the United States and if it had achieved that goal, Iraq wouldn't have dared to attack Iran even ifithad intended it in the first place.
"!" In an interview with Scott MacLeod, Ebrahim Asgharzadeh says, "Some people in Iran believe that the eight-year war was the direct consequence of the takeover of American embassy and, for this reason, they believe that we have suffered great losses.
According to Ebrahim Yazdi, the foreign minister of the Interim Government, just IO days before the takeover, a CIA official whom he met in Tehran, said that Iraq intends to invade Iran, but after the takeover and subsequent changing conditions, the Iraqi regime temporarily changed its mind."