I've never been the largest fan of the bard myself, and it's been at least a decade since I last read Othello, so I'm afraid I barely remember who Iago is, let alone the particulars of why he hated Othello. As for Desdemona, I personally think it's a lovely name, although that's just opinion.
Have you tried finding a live performance? They're plays, they are meant to be performed, not read, and it generally makes the events easier to follow.