Medal Of The Iran-Iraq War.

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Iran-Iraq War Medal (Arabic name not known)

After the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, relations between Iran and Iraq had steadily worsened and, on 22 September 1980, open warfare began.

Considerable financial and political support came to Iraq from neighboring Gulf Arab states and other foreign friends, as Iraq had come to be seen as the defender of the conservative Gulf kingdoms (and their oil wealth) from the Iranian revolutionary zeal.

The war, which has become known as Gulf War I, was extremely costly in lives and material on both sides. It was finally concluded by a cease fire on 20 August 1988 and the ongoing cease-fire came under the supervision of the UN Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group (UNIIMOG).

The medal design is based on that of the Medal for Bravery and another similar medal, with a different ribbon and a legend on the obverse, was awarded for the 1990-91 Gulf War (Gulf War II).

Established: ???, made by the German firm of F. W. Assman.

Obverse: Gilt 40 mm (point-to-point) eight-pointed rayed sunburst star with black-enameled center with crossed swords and triangular red-enameled national arms above. Suspended by an integral loop.

Reverse: The maker’s mark, an ornate “A” (“Assman”), appears on the uppermost point of the star.

Ribbon: 38 mm, grey-olive-colored with a black (dark blue?) center; these two colors are separated by rainbow-colored stripes; 9 mm olive, 3 mm rainbow, 13 mm black, 3 mm rainbow, 9 mm olive. (This is remarkably similar to the ribbon used by the U.S. veteran’s organization, the American Legion.)