ABSTRACT
Iran and Iraq, the two most populous states in the Gulf, have long struggled for dominance over the Gulf region and have engaged in a massive arms race ever since the 1960s. Iran and Iraq are able to pose a challenge to each other and the southern Gulf States. The southern Gulf states are forced to try to create stronger deterrent and defensive capabilities but remain dependent on Western power projection forces as the ultimate guarantee of their security. Iran and Iraq clashed over control of key areas along the border and access to the Gulf, and they fought a border war during the early and mid-1970s. Iranian and Iraqi arms purchases reflect the same patterns as do their competition and military buildup. Mohammed Mossadeq nationalized the oil company, gradually took most of the power away from his colleagues in the Majlis and from the shah, and attempted to purge the military forces of its pro-shah officers.
