Iran – Ottoman dispute over the city of Baghsaee

This paper reports Iran-Ottoman disputes over the region of Baghsaee, owned by Iran since the Safavid time, and its final anexion to the Ottoman Empire in 1914.

Archival records and library resources were examined for gathering data.  Findings and

Security concerns of the Ottomans were due to the proximity of Baghsaee city to the central Mesopotamia cities and the Tigris River. Also, supply of irrigation water flow from Iran to downstream areas of Konjancham and Changooleh was a major concern for the Ottomans. Prologed border disputes resulted in a sense of insecurity among the population and led to widespread immigration from Poshtkooh to the Ottoman territory. Evantually according to the 1914 treaty an area of 7 to 20 km width and more than 200 kilometers length including the city of Baghsae was transferred to the Ottomans.