This modern study of the Iran-Iraq War utilizes newly available primary materials to analyze American policy towards the war and question the veracity of the United States’ claims of strict neutrality.

The Iran-Iraq War lasted from September 1980 to August 1988, dominating the landscape of the Middle East and polarizing many of the world’s nations for nearly a decade. This new work analyzes the United States’ policy towards this vicious and extremely costly war, and questions the veracity of America’s claims of strict neutrality.

The contents of Covert Relationship: American Foreign Policy, Intelligence, and the Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988 can be broken down into five sections: the conflict’s origins, the Carter administration’s response to the war, the Reagan administration’s actions, changes to American policy during the Iran-Contra Affair, and the collapse of neutrality in the final two years of the war. The author boldly refutes the arguments of other authors about the war, and provides timely and relevant insights regarding American-Iraqi relations in light of the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Incorporates use of primary documents obtained from the American National Archives, the Carter and Reagan Presidential Libraries, the National Security Archive, and Freedom of Information Act requests

Provides an easy-to-follow, chronological presentation of all the major events in the war

Includes maps of all major battles during the Iran-Iraq War, as well as targets attacked in the Persian Gulf

Contains a glossary clarifying all major acronyms

An extensive bibliography and index of important people, organizations, documents, and events provides avenues for further research