The Role of Border Rivers in Iran-Iraq Relations from Pahlavi to the Beginning of the Iran–Iraq War (case study: Gangir and Konjan Cham in Ilam province)

The present study tries to investigate the process of historical boundary dissentions between Iran and Ottomans as well as Iran and Iraq from Qajar dynasty period to the beginning of Iraqi eight- year imposed war on Iran. Contemporary with Qajar dynasty, the Poshtkouh Vali clan ruled Ilam province in Iran. They authoritatively defended Poshtkooh territory (Ilam province) against the Ottomans' aggressions. Some of them commandingly controlled the waters of these two rivers. With the onset of Pahlavi regime in Iran and formation of a new government in Iraq after the overthrow of Ottomans Empire, Iran and Iraq disputes over the rivers entered a new stage, and it continued to the beginning of the imposed war on Iran. This research with analytical – descriptive method tries to provide the response to this question: what is the role of rivers of Gangir and Konjan cham in Iran and Iraq boundary relations. This article is aiming to shed lights on the matters of dissensions over the issue between the two countries. It also attempts to discuss and analyze the problem as much as possible. The study comes to the conclusion that unlimited and indeterminate use of the amount of water by Iraqi borderers inhabiting Ilam province border mentioned in boundary assigning protocol in 1914, the severe need of Iraqi borderers to the waters of the two rivers, aggressive behavior of Iraqi rulers in the past years in order to get more concessions in Iran's border, can be considered the main influential factors and reasons for disputes and dissensions between Iran and Iraq. Nevertheless, the role of borderline rivers in conflicts between the two countries is the matter of investigation in this article.