فصلنامه تاریخ روابط خارجی
پیاپی 92 (پاییز 1401)

A few decades after the Yuan Dynasty (Chinese Mongols) came to power by Qubilai-Qaan, and by the establishment of Ilkhanate rule in Iran, good relations were established between the two powers through the Silk Road. With the help of the Āl-e-Ṭībī’s local government in Kish Island as their vassals in the Persian Gulf, the Ilkhans started maritime relations. With the establishment of the merchant family of Malik al-Islam Ṭībī in Kish Island during the second half of the 13th century and the beginning of the 14th century, this family carried out its commercial activities in two areas. They concentrated on the Persian Gulf (Kish Island) and the Indian Ocean. As Malik-ul-Islam Jamal-ud-Din Ibrahim Ṭībī in Kish Island and his brother Taqi-ud-Din Ibrahim in the coasts of Ma’abar in India, by establishing coastal commercial agencies, they provided the basis for maritime communication between Iran and China through the Indian Ocean. And in 1297 one of the sons of Malik al-Islam, named Malik Fakhruddin Ahmad Ṭībī, was sent by Ghazan to the court of Timur Qaan in China as an ambassador. The problem of this article is to examine the purpose and factors affecting this embassy. The findings of the research indicate that the economic goals (sea trade as Ortaq) were superior to other motives of the court of Ilkhans, but the disruptions of  Maliks of  Hormuz had a major impact on the failure of this embassy. In this research, the motivations and factors affecting Fakhruddin Ahmad Ṭībī's mission have been investigated in terms of local, regional and global conditions using Iranian and Chinese written sources as well as field research.

The vast land of India, the most important British colony in the twentieth century, was subject to the attention of other colonial countries, and some of them, such as France and Russia, tried to penetrate this region through land borders in Iran and Afghanistan. Therefore, the British penetrated into Iran and Afghanistan in order to gain new privileges in these areas in addition to preserving India. One of the policies of the British to communicate with the Qajar kings and Afghan rulers was to conclude treaties. The current historical research seeks to investigate and identify these treaties and analyze their provisions and results through descriptive-analytical method and collecting library data. The findings show that by concluding these treaties, England used Qajars against Afghan rulers and Afghan rulers against Qajars. In fact, England neutralized against British influence in the two regions by these treaties. while the governors the field of alliance and cooperation between Qajar kings and Afghan rulers could act as a barrier against British activities by putting their struggles aside.The vast land of India, the most important British colony in the twentieth century, was subject to the attention of other colonial countries, and some of them, such as France and Russia, tried to penetrate this region through land borders in Iran and Afghanistan. Therefore, the British penetrated into Iran and Afghanistan in order to gain new privileges in these areas in addition to preserving India. One of the policies of the British to communicate with the Qajar kings and Afghan rulers was to conclude treaties. The current historical research seeks to investigate and identify these treaties and analyze their provisions and results through descriptive-analytical method and collecting library data. The findings show that by concluding these treaties, England used Qajars against Afghan rulers and Afghan rulers against Qajars. In fact, England neutralized against British influence in the two regions by these treaties. while the governors the field of alliance and cooperation between Qajar kings and Afghan rulers could act as a barrier against British activities by putting their struggles aside.

During the Qajar period, the Bakhtiaris and the British had friendly relations which entered a new phase with the construction of the Bakhtiari road by the Lynch company. The construction of this road, although being a turning point in the relations between the two sides, created challenges among them. These Challenges are questioned in this research. What role did the construction of Bakhtiari Road, known as Lynch Road, play in the process of relations between the Bakhtiari Khans and the British government? The assumption of the research is based on the premise that although the construction of Bakhtiari road led to further expansion of the relations between the Bakhtiari Khans and the British, at the same time, the existence of a number of factors and issues created resentments and challenges between the two sides. The findings of the research show that factors such as disputes over financial issues, instability and insecurity of the road, as well as the failure to fulfill the promises and duties of the parties caused challenges and damages in the relations between the Bakhtiaris and the British on Lynch Road.

At the beginning of World War I, Iran decided to adopt a policy of neutrality in foreign policy and international relations. Iran's statesmen thought that by adopting this policy, they could keep the war away from Iran's borders; however, this prediction did not occur and the war entered Iran's territory and caused huge losses to Iranians. Even though for the majority of statesmen, the policy of neutrality was an unquestionable matter and the best strategy to get rid of this devastating crisis, weak voices were reflected in that space, which did not consider this policy to ensure Iran's territorial integrity and national security. This study made an attempt to present some of these criticisms and doubts. The arguments and opinions of the opponents of the policy of neutrality were neglected at that time, but by investigating them, it may be possible to achieve results for Iran today.

With the collapse of the Ottoman Empire following World War I, a part of its territory was split among the Allies, leading to the formation of many countries, including Iraq. Iran regarded the territory of Iraq up to the Euphrates as a part of its territory since ancient time and had clashed with the Ottomans for centuries to achieve this goal and saw the Versailles Peace Congress to raise this demand after the conclusion of the war. However, the great powers, particularly Britain, had envisaged a different destiny for Iraq, and as a consequence, Iraq became Iran's western neighbor. Therefore, it is clear that, from this point on, Iran's stance toward the newly created Iraq was impacted by a historical backdrop which caused the Iranian government to refuse to recognize this country for years. This prompted the Iraqi government, fomented by the British Empire and seeking to consolidate its influence, to exert pressure on Iran through measures such as the deportation of Iranian religious scholars who criticized British trusteeship, canceling the capitulation of Iranian citizens in Iraq, as well as border disputes. Finally, this turmoil, combined with other national and international issues, compelled Iran to recognize Iraq. As a result, the problem of the present research is to know why and how the newly established Iraq was recognized by Iran after many years. Also, this research employs a descriptive approach, drawing on Persian and Arabic texts and sources from the historical era in question to study and explain the causes or factors impacting these relationships, as well as their shifts and evolutions.

With the announcement of the withdrawal of British Forces from east of Suez and the Persian Gulf, after World War ∏, America as a western super power gradually expanded its influence in the Persian Gulf region to prevent the expansion of Soviet Union’s influence in the region. Raising the issue of power vacuum and change in the balance of power, America while preparing political and propaganda grounds, announced its official presence in the Persian Gulf region as the protector of the west’s interests. Given the strategic importance of Persian Gulf in regional foreign policy of America in 1969 based on Nixon-Kissinger doctorine, a policy called Twin Pillars policy, was adopted to keep domination on the region at the expenses of the local governments to indigenize regional issues. Based on that policy, Iran was a military pillar and Saudi Arabia was a financial pillar. The us twin pillars policy continued for about 10 years. With the occurrence of the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979 and as result of it, the loss of Iran’s support for that policy as one of its pillars, regional strategy of America in Persian Gulf failed during 1970s. In this article, It has been tried to study the position of the Persian Gulf in foreign policy of America in the framework of Nixon doctorine focusing on Iran’s role during 1969-1979. Research method in this article is based on library and archival resources. using descriptive and analytical type.