Original sentence: However, this would not materialize since the Iranians were still cleaning up the mess caused by The Iran-Iraq War and knew that any action against the Baathist Government would only infuriate the Iraqis and possibly trigger another war
Edited sentence: Unfortunately this wasn't to happen for the Iranians who were still cleaning up the mess caused by The Iran-Iraq War, knew that any action against the Baathist Government would only infuriate the Iraqis and possibly trigger (the last thing Iran Needed at the time) another war