 In June 1978, Iraq began entering into friendlier relations with the Western world and buying French and Italian-made weapons, though the vast majority still came from the Soviet Union, its Warsaw Pact allies, and China.King Mohammed Zahir Shah ascended to the throne and reigned from 1933 to 1973.Zahir's cousin, Mohammad Daoud Khan, served as Prime Minister from 1954 to 1963.