The war also saw the involvement of other regional and international actors, including the United States, which provided support to Iraq in the form of military aid and intelligence. The Soviet Union, meanwhile, provided arms and logistical support to Iran, in part to counterbalance American support for Iraq. The end of the war finally came in August 1988, when both sides agreed to a ceasefire brokered by the United Nations. The ceasefire brought an end to the fighting, but left many issues unresolved, including the border dispute over the Shatt al-Arab waterway and the status of prisoners of war.
