Anglo-Iranian Relations since 1800

1. ‘Persia’ in the Western imagination: Ali M. Ansari
2. Major-General Sir Robert Murdoch Smith KCMG and Anglo-Iranian relations in art and culture: Jennifer M. Scarce
3. The clergy and the British: perceptions of religion and the ulama in early Qajar Iran: Robert Gleave
4. The British in Bushehr: the impact of the First Herat War (1838–41) on relations with state and society: Vanessa Martin
5. Ordinary people and the reception of British culture in Iran, 1906–41: Morteza Nouraei
6. The relationship between the British and Abd al-Husain Mirza Farman-Farma during his governorship of Fars, 1916–20: Mansoureh Ettehadieh Nezam Mafi
7. Britain, the Iranian military and the rise of Reza Khan: Stephanie Cronin
8. Oil in Iran between the two world wars: Mohammad Malek
9. An assessment of the withdrawal of British forces from the Persian Gulf (1971) within the framework of disputed islands: Reza Nazarahari
10. Anglo-Iranian relations over the disputed islands in the Persian Gulf: constraints on rapprochement: Hossein H. Moghaddam
11. The restoration of diplomatic relations with Iran, December 1953: Denis Wright

With contributions from renowned experts in the field, this book provides an excellent background to the history of Anglo-Iranian relations. Focusing on the political and economic relationship of Britain and issues of strategic sensitivity, the book also illuminates British relations with society and the state and describes the interaction between various representatives and agents of both countries. Anglo-Iranian relations have had a long and complex history, characterized on the one hand by mistrust and intrusion and on the other by mutual exchange and understanding. This book explores the intriguing history of this interactive relationship since 1800, looking at it from a variety of perspectives. Drawing on previously unavailable documents in English and Persian, the book argues that Iran in the nineteenth century had a national state, which strongly defended the national interests.