Iraq: Rulers Kings Faisal I(1921–1933) Ghazi I (1933–1939) Faisal II(1939–1958) Abd al-Ilah, regent (1939–1941, 1941–1953) Sharaf ibn Rajih al-Fawwaz, regent (1941) Chairman of the Sovereignty CouncilMuhammad Najib ar-Ruba`i PresidentsAbd as-Salam `Arif (1963–1966) Abd ar-Rahman al-Bazzaz (!966) Abd ar-Rahman `Arif (1966–1968) Ahmad Hassan al-Bakr (1968–1979) Saddam Hussein(1979–2003