User Guide

Historical Overview
Publication Sentinel – The Gulf States
Country
Iran
Date 1995 Dec 20
Section History / Historical Overview
Iran is an ancient country with a history dating to the empire of Cyrus the Great,
founder of the Persian Empire in the 6th Century bc. For much of its history Iran
has been a monarchy, with the Shia clergy playing a prominent political role.
In 1906 the first Imperial Constitution established an elected parliament (Majlis).
European industrialisation and the resultant expansion in capability and power
gradually exposed Persian political weaknesses, the country soon coming to be
dominated by the new continental powers, the United Kingdom and Imperial
Russia in particular. Both were attracted by the country’s strategic importance and
were to occupy parts of the country at various times.
In 1944, while Soviet troops were in the northern Azerbaijan province, Moscow
demanded concessions for the exploration and exploitation of oil in the northern
part of the country. The leader of the Iranian National Front, Mohammad
Mosaddeq, launched a campaign against the granting of concessions to any
foreign power and agitated for existing agreements to be revoked. Meanwhile, the
Democratic Party of Azerbaijan, which was manipulated by Moscow and supported
by Soviet troops, seized power and declared Azerbaijan’s independence. British
Commonwealth troops left Iran in 1946, although Soviet forces remained.
Territorial Disputes – Iraq, UAE
Publication Sentinel – The Gulf States
Country
Iran
Date 1995 Dec 20
Section Threat - External / Territorial Disputes - Iraq, UAE
Since the end of the war with Iraq, tensions on Iran’s borders have increased,
forcing Tehran to seek improvements in the capability of its military machine. The
aftermath of the Gulf conflict led indirectly to a threat from the United Nations-
imposed Kurdish autonomous zone in Iraq. This has given encouragement to
Iran’s Kurdish minority in the north.
Iraq’s defeat in the Gulf conflict has certainly delayed any attempt by Saddam
Hussein to revive the two countries’ border dispute. Nonetheless, Tehran expects
future claims by Baghdad in its effort to secure access to the Gulf.
The collapse of the Soviet Union and the emergence of newly independent
republics on Iran’s northern borders have made it necessary for Tehran to develop
relations with Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. Despite sharing religious affinities,
6: CAMPAIGNS
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