ABSTRACT
Iraq directed its efforts mainly at improving its defenses and its offensive arsenal – a first-line aircraft, the Soviet MiG-29, was received, and the range of ground-to-ground missiles was increased. Iraq continued its efforts to stop war by encouraging and supporting diplomatic moves towards that end; by continuing its defensive strategy along the front; and by aggressively employing its air superiority against Iranian economic targets, especially those associated with Iran's oil exports. The operational targets were oil installations along the Gulf and shipping. The tanker war was only one aspect, albeit an important one, of the Gulf Arabs' perception of growing Iranian political and military threat. The Iraqis demanded the implementation of the various provisions in sequential order, considering the Iranian demand for an altered precedence as clear rejection. Iranian leaders portrayed their country as facing an international conspiracy directed by the US and aimed at preserving Saddam Husayn, imposing peace on Iran, and discrediting the Islamic Revolution.
