فصلنامه تاریخ روابط خارجی
پیاپی 67 (تابستان 1395)

Iran and Spain, two countries of rich civilization and effective contributors to the world history, have maintained significant political and cultural relations since ancient times. During the first Islamic centuries the Arab world bridged the gap between Iran, on the easternmost extremes of the Islamic Caliphate, and Spain, on the westernmost stretches of the Roman Empire, thus facilitating the flow of cultural and intellectual exchange. Iran-Spain relations in this era bore upon bureaucracy, music, literature, art and architecture. Since the early modern centuries, and also from the early XVI century during which sovereign national rules were consolidated in the two countries, their bilateral ties developed exponentially and, as a result, more intense exchange of political and trade delegations between the two and drove the relations to its zenith in the first quarter of the XVII century. The impact of these relations from antiquity to present have been so intense that it is safe to assume that, despite their geographical distance, Iran and Spain remain the two Asian and European countries that bear the most cultural and civilizational resemblance to each other. The current research draws upon archival and library sources to review cultural and historical relations between the two countries and study its implications for their present day relations.

In the transitional period of 7th to 9th century the intellectual and cultural city of Hillah contributed to Iranian culture in three forms; scientific (through scholars and intellectuals’ journeys), spiritual (Hajj pilgrimage) and economic (commercial caravans), all of which were embodied in three dimensions of religion, mysticism and intellectual quests in Iranian culture. In terms of religion and science, Allameh Helli and his son Fakhr-al-Mohaqqeqin played a prominent role in transferring Hillah knowledge to Iran to the extent that their role was crucial in Iranians’ conversion from Sunni to Shia Islam. From a mystic and spiritual point of view, in addition to contributions from Seyyed ibn Tavous and Ibn Meysam Bohrani, Ibn Fahad Hilli and Seyyed Heydar Amoli, their role in bilateral relations were highly effective.

In this study Aqa Mohammad Khan’s Caucasian campaign and Iran-Ottoman relations (1795-1797) are studied based on Ottoman sources. Ottoman’s policy towards Aqa Mohammad Khan’s Caucasian campaigns is the main research focus of this study. It goes without saying that the author has been sympathetic to the Ottoman, thus, rendering a belligerent image of Aqa Mohammad Khan and the Qajar state portraying the Qajar campaigns as ambitious strides towards restoring the Safavid borders. However, Iranian sources suggest otherwise and hold Ottoman’s encroachments at Iranian borders during the weaker years of the Zand dynasty responsible for Aqa Mohammad Khan’s measures to stabilize the country.

Inventions and discoveries emanating from the Industrial Revolution constituted one of the most important strengths of some European colonial powers. Telegraph machine, inter alia, connected many colonies held by colonial powers. In this regard, Iran and more importantly the vital port of Bushehr were highly important locations in areas under British colonial rule since telegraph could inform Britain on the situation in Bushehr, and served as an important tool for exerting far and wide influence in those areas. The economic relevance of Bushehr to Qajar’s sustainability, its role in the import and export of essential and colonial goods, its military status as a strategic seaport for the Royal Navy justified the presence of British forces in the city and necessitated the establishment of a telegraph house. The article has sought to assess the reasons for establishing Bushehr telegraph house, its functions, implication and effective aspects and dimensions.

The history of Iran-Germany relations dates back to the Qajar era, however, it was during the First World War that Germany managed to expand its influence in the country to the extent that it bore upon Iran’s destiny during the two World Wars. Despite Iran’s declaration of neutrality in the Second World War, the Allied forces occupied the country under the pretext of German presence in Iran. The current article draws upon archived documents and employs descriptive-analytical method to find answers to the question as to how Iran-Germany relations constituted a pretext for the Allies under which they occupied the country and dragged Iran into the War? The research findings suggest that the Shah’s approval of Germany and the political elite and Iranians’ favorable opinion of them in hopes of using Germany as a counterweight to balance out the influence of Britain and Russia contributed to the growth of bilateral relations. The relations grew so strong that on the eve of World War II numerous Germans resided in Iran, which was the reason the Allies invaded and engaged Iran in a War that not only precipitated the transition of political power, but also had severe economic consequences.

On 14 August 1947 the partition of India officially took effect and Pakistan was born as an independent nation. Iran was the first country to recognize the new state, and in later years signed treaties of amity, border treaties, extradition treaties and cultural agreements with the newly independent Pakistan. The current research draws on historical and library archives and employs descriptive-analytical method to analyze the factors bearing upon Iran-Pakistan relations on economic, political and cultural levels from the independence of Pakistan to the Islamic Revolution. Pakistan’s security concerns and the structure of the bipolar system drove the two countries ever closer to forge high-level relations. The two countries joined Baghdad-CENTO Pact and constituted two of three three pillars of regional development organizations. Furthermore, cultural relations were extensive. Despite extensive political and cultural relations between Iran and Pakistan, as a result of similar, and not complementary economic structure, their relations remained limited to a number of bilateral agreements.