It is not only the United States that is attempting this feat; Iraq at its military peak also tried and failed. This historical episode was the invasion of Iran by Iraq, which initiated the so-called Iran–Iraq War, one of the longest and most destructive conflicts of the 20th century.

When it occurred:

The invasion began on September 22, 1980.

The conflict lasted almost 8 years, ending with a ceasefire on August 20, 1988.

The definitive diplomatic agreement came later, in 1990.

The invasion was ordered by the then leader of Iraq, Saddam Hussein.

The main reasons were:

1) Territorial dispute

The most important point was the Shatt al-Arab region (or Arvand Rud), a strategic river through which a large part of Iraq's oil exports pass.

Iraq wanted total control of this maritime route.

2) Fear of the Islamic Revolution

In 1979, the Iranian Revolution occurred, led by Ruhollah Khomeini, who overthrew the Shah of Iran.

Saddam feared that this revolution would inspire the Shiite population of Iraq to rebel against his government.

3) Military opportunity

Iran was weakened after the revolution, experiencing internal changes, purges in the armed forces, and political instability.

Saddam believed he could quickly conquer parts of Iranian territory, especially the oil-rich province of Khuzestan.

How the invasion went

Iraq launched a large-scale offensive across the western border of Iran.

In the beginning, it managed to advance and take some border cities.

However, the Iranian resistance was much greater than expected.

In 1981–1982, Iran managed to recover lost territories and began counterattacking within Iraq.

The final outcome

The final result was, in practice, a military stalemate, but with devastating consequences.

Consequences:

• About 500,000 to 1 million dead

• Millions of wounded

• Destroyed cities

• Huge economic damage to both countries

• Attacks on oil tankers in the Persian Gulf

• Use of chemical weapons by Iraq

After years of attrition, both sides accepted the UN-mediated ceasefire in 1988.

In summary:

Iraq invaded expecting a quick victory, but the war turned into a long and extremely bloody conflict, with no permanent territorial gains.

Many historians summarize it by saying it was a war in which both lost a lot and no one really won.