It was the 2nd longest war of the 20th century, after the Vietnam War. Physically imposed on this country in Sep 22 1980, the Iraq-Iran War took 8 years. A major turning point and what could have been ultimate victory for Iran came in 1982.
That was ultimately thanks to Operation Beit ol-Moqaddas, which on May 24 or Khordad the 3rd liberated the southwestern port city of Khorramshahr, county seat of oil-rich Khuzestan province bordering Iraq.