Abadan: From Ancient Port to Oil Hub, Surviving War and Rebuilding

However, this era of prosperity was tragically interrupted in September 1980, when Iraq launched a surprise invasion of Khuzestan, plunging the region into the devastating Iran-Iraq War. Abadan found itself on the front lines of this brutal conflict, enduring relentless artillery and aerial bombardments that inflicted widespread destruction upon its infrastructure, including its vital oil refineries. While the Iraqi forces failed to capture the city, their sustained attacks reduced much of it to rubble, leaving an indelible scar on the landscape and the collective memory of its inhabitants.