Border friction persists, although the treaty is binding under international law and its detailed delimitation of borders[1] has remained in force since its signing in 1975 and was ratified by both nations in 1976. The agreement, proclaimed at the final meeting of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, to which the two nations belong, appeared to be a breakthrough in the clashes around the Kurdish rebellion in northern Iraq and navigation rights in the Shatt al Arab. This is the waterway shared by Iran and Iraq, where the Tigris and Euphrates are emptying in the Persian Gulf. “I am pleased to announce,” said the President, “that an agreement was signed last night, which completely eliminated the conflict between the two sister countries, Iran and Iraq.” The agreement, commonly known as the Algiers Agreement, was signed in 1975 and aimed to settle border disputes between Iran and Iraq. It served as a roadmap to improve relations between the two countries. On 6 March 1975, Iranian President Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi and Saddam Hussein, then Iraqi Vice-President, signed the Algiers Agreement, which focused mainly on two key issues: the delimitation of land and river borders and the exercise of strict border controls. Iran and Iraq announced a resumption of the Algiers Agreement signed in 1975 to resolve long-standing border disputes that have led to several clashes between the two states. The agreement was included in a joint communiqué signed by the Shah of Iran and Saddam Hussein, vice-president of Iraq`s left-wing junta. The communiqué calls for a “definitive and lasting resolution of all problems” between their countries.
On 15 March 1975, the foreign ministers of Iraq and Iran met with Algerian representatives for the creation of a joint committee for the definition of the new border. [14] On 17 March, the protocol between the two countries was signed by the two foreign ministers. The protocol stipulates that both countries commit to redefining the border. When the Baath Party took control of the government, Iraq demanded full control of Shatt al-Arab (Arvand Rud) in 1968. [7] On 19 April 1969, Iran withdrew from the 1937 agreement signed between Iraq and Iran to resolve border problems, arguing that Iraq interfered in Iranian ships in the Shatt al-Arab. [8] In April 1969, the two armies were deployed to the shores of the Persian Gulf. After Iran took control of four islands in the Persian Gulf, diplomatic relations between Baghdad and Tehran deteriorated considerably. [7] Iraq encouraged the Khuzestan Arabs to rebel against the Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Iraq has also driven all Iranians out of Iraq. [8] Iran supported the Kurds in the Iraqi-Kurdish war with military equipment and financial means. Mustafa al-Barzani met with US government officials to secretly support the Kurds, further weakening Iraq`s position, made even more complicated by the outbreak of the Yom Kippur war. Iraq had to appease Iran because it feared that Iran would attack them from the east, while most Iraqi forces were fighting on the Syrian front.
[9] The parties were committed to diligently implementing the Algiers Agreement of 13 June 1975 on the state`s borders and neighbouring relations between Iran and Iraq.