Final answer:
The immediate effects of the Persian Gulf War included increased oil prices and economic uncertainty, and also left Iraq politically isolated and economically weakened without achieving lasting peace, stability, or improved US-Iraq relations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Immediate Effects of the Persian Gulf War
The immediate effects of the Persian Gulf War included increased oil prices and economic uncertainty but did not lead to long-lasting peace and stability in the Middle East, improved relations between the United States and Iraq, or an expansion of Iraq's territorial control. Following the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq under Saddam Hussein, the region experienced geopolitical turmoil. Hussein accused Kuwait of slant drilling, which was considered illegal and an encroachment on Iraq's oil reserves, leading to his invasion and claim of Kuwait as part of Iraq.
When diplomacy failed, an international coalition led by the United States named Operation Desert Storm began, which aimed at liberating Kuwait from Iraqi control. The operation resulted in increased oil prices due to the disruption of oil production and exports, particularly from Kuwait and Iraq. Furthermore, the war did not achieve lasting regional stability or improve the United States-Iraq relations, as demonstrated by the subsequent 2003 US-led invasion to remove Saddam Hussein from power.
Instead, the outcome of the conflict left Iraq economically weakened and politically isolated, reinforcing the US presence in the region and leading to a decade-long sanction that further deteriorated the Iraqi economy and the life of its citizens.