SUMMARY
In the aftermath of the Iranian Revolution of 1979, Arabs in the oil-rich province of Khuzestan formed APCO (Arab Political and Cultural Organization). They demanded more autonomy for the local Arabs and a greater share in oil revenues. They also demanded that Khuzestan reverted to its old name Arabistan. Violent clashes with government forces ensued. Neighbouring Iraq first supported APCO militarily and in September 1980 launched an armed conflict with Iran calling, among other things, for the “liberation of Arabistan.”
IN DEPTH
Background to the conflict
The Iranian province of Khuzestan had formerly been known as Arabistan. The region is located at the border to Iraq and was dominated by ethnic Arabs until oil was discovered in its soil in the early 20th century. Containing the lion’s share of the Iranian oil reserves, Khuzestan turned out to be of major economic and strategic importance. The local oil industry attracted many ethnic Persians, who moved to the region. This led to increasing social tensions. The local Arabs felt disadvantaged as it was largely accepted that the Persians enjoyed a better standard of living and obtained better jobs.
After the Iranian Revolution in early 1979 that resulted in the toppling of the Iranian shah, the government apparatus had collapsed and military and security forces were in disarray. At the same time, hopes for change after the end of reign of the shah were high. As the new Iranian regime tried to consolidate its power, the ethnic Arabs of Khuzestan organised themselves in various political and cultural organisations under the umbrella of APCO (Arab Political and Cultural Organization). Central demands of the newly-established organisation were more autonomy, a greater share of oil revenues, cultural rights and Arab representation in the central government. APCO claimed that Arabs still constituted the vast majority in Khuzestan, while this was denied by the government. APCO’s leader, Shaikh Khaghani, held negotiations with Ayatollah Khomeini, the spiritual leader of the new Iranian government. Khomeini’s concessions were limited to the formation of a provincial council in Khuzestan with limited autonomy rights. Similar councils had also been introduced in other provinces of Iran.
1979-1980 Armed conflict over Arabistan
APCO’s (Arab Political and Cultural Organization) demands for more political and cultural autonomy and a greater share in oil revenues were not fully met and a series of violent clashes between government forces (the so-called Revolutionary Guards) and the Arab rebels ensued in May 1979. The clashes were concentrated in the city of Khorramshahr, near the Iraqi border, where APCO reportedly had its headquarter. Fighting peaked at the end of May, when up to 200 people lost their lives in battle. A few days later, a state of emergency was declared in Khuzestan.
APCO’s leader, Shaikh Khaghani again engaged in negotiations and on 6 June 1979 he concluded an agreement with the Iranian government. The accord regulated, inter alia, the appointment of Arabs to local government posts, the release of prisoners detained during the May clashes and the bringing to trial of those who had attacked Arab property. However, at the end of June 1979, Shaikh Khaghani declared the agreement void, as it had not been implemented by the government. In mid-July, he was arrested by government forces and put under house arrest. Khaghani’s followers demanded the return of their leader and, in response, the government sent more troops to reinforce security and in particular to guard oil installation in the area, which were increasingly targeted by rebels.
The Iranian government claimed that the Arabs of Khuzestan were a minority “inspired from abroad”, alluding to neighbouring Iraq. In fact, Iraq had claimed in 1969 that Khuzestan/Arabistan was Iraqi territory that had been surrendered to Iran during the foreign mandate of the Ottomans. However, Iraq had given up claims to the region in a peace agreement concluded in 1975. In the intrastate conflict over Arabistan APCO was believed to receive weapons from Iraq and tensions between Iran and Iraq increased. The latter demanded in September 1980 the general recognition of the Arab character of the Iranian province of Khuzestan. A few days later, Iraqi troops invaded Iran and temporarily occupied Khuzestan. National rights for the Arab minority were one of Iraq’s central demands in the Iran-Iraq conflict lasting from 1980 to 1988 (see the conflict Iran-Iraq). However, the majority of the Arab population of Khuzestan rejected the Iraqi Presidents call to "liberate Arabistan" and opted to remain loyal to their country.
