Part 2 of BBC doco by Norma Percy and co on the history and relationship beween Iran and the West.
Following the Iranian Revolution in 1979 the West no longer had the overthrown Shah to act as a regional policeman for them. When Ayatollah Khomeini took power the amiable relationship between the US and Iran reversed overnight. The ambitious Saddam Hussein saw the revolution and breakdown of order as a golden opportunity to become the regions powerhouse and in 1980 Iraq invaded Iran. What was to follow would be an 8 year war that would devastate both nations, cause around half a million casualties, some of which from chemical weapons.
Iranians expected some kind of reaction from the international community of the crimes of Iraq, but none was forthcoming as the US unofficially supported Iraq with weapons and intelligence.