Five international organizations: AL NAM OAPEC OIC OPEC 

Iraq's strategic importance rests on its vast oil reserves.

During the 1980–1988 Iran–Iraq war, Saddam Hussein was armed by the West as an ally against Islamic fundamentalism. However, his invasion of Kuwait in 1990 was decried the world over. A US-led force, assisted by several Arab states, repelled Iraq in 1991. While Russia and France led the way in undermining the resultant UN sanctions on humanitarian grounds, the US increased the pressure on Saddam Hussein after 2001, counting Iraq among the "axis of evil" states sponsoring international terrorism on the assumption that it had the potential to provide weapons of mass destruction to terrorists. France, Germany, and Russia were joined by most of Iraq's neighbors in opposing the war launched, without UN backing, by the US and allies in 2003. The postwar regime is likely to have close ties to the US. Iran, Syria, and Muslim extremists are deeply suspicious of a potential US client state in their midst, while Turkey fears a resurgence of pan-Kurdish nationalism.

From "The Financial Times World Desk Reference" © Dorling Kindersley 2004