فصلنامه تاریخ روابط خارجی
پیاپی 54 (بهار 1392)

After the invasion of Mongols led by Hulagu Khan to the West and establishment of Ilkhanid Government, Iran political ties entered a new phase and experienced a remarkable and unprecedented development in terms of direct relations with the East and the West. The relations between the Ilkhanids and the Golden Horde which shared vast borderlines in the West and East of the Caspian Sea were mostly based on opposition and enmity rather than interaction and amity. The vicissitudes of hostile relations between the two governments both ruled by descendents of Genghis Khan, started since the establishment of Ilkhanid government and existed until the end of it. These tensions and conflicts were generated by various factors among which the most important ones were undefined borders, attempted expansionism by both sides, conflicts on ruling over regions such as Caucasus and Azerbaijan, trade and economic factors, differences in religion, interventions made by other rival governments such as Egypt that provoked more hostility, and ill-treatment toward the Nationals of the rival government practiced by both sides.

Following the establishment of Safavid Government in 1502, Iran developed new relations with its Eastern and Western neighbors such as Ottoman, Uzbek and Gurkaniyan Governments. These relations were mostly based on military conflicts and clashes. Since the establishment of Safavid Reign, their relations with Uzbeks were full of tension and pugnacity, sparking many wars. The conflicts and clashes between the two states begun with the fateful war of Marv between Uzbeks led by Muhammad Khan (Sheybak Khan) and Shah Ismail in 1537 and continued in other courses of time. These clashes were mostly over Khorasan Wilayah (administration subdivision of the government) which was of strategic and economic importance; as a result, Uzbeks would attack to occupy it and the Safavids would go many times to repel them and secure the Eastern borders. During the reign of Shah Safi, Uzbek commanders and border guards invaded Khorasan and looted the cities and killed the citizens. As a result, Shah Safi made some changes to his adopted policy of flexibility and compromise and took a tougher stance against the Uzbeks and eventually defeated them thanks to his commanders and forced the Uzbeks to succumb to a peaceful relation. This paper while explaining the reasons and grounds for longtime clashes and conflicts between the Safavids and the Uzbeks provides a specific account for the clashes between the two neighboring states during the reign of Shah Safi (1659-1673) particularly over Khorsan Wilayah, constant invasions of Uzbeks and the relations between the two powers. The findings of the research show that in addition to different religious views and long history of hostility between the two states, Khorasan Wilayah stood as the major reason for sparking constant conflicts between the Safavids and the Uzbeks.

During the reign of Qajar, since the War of Herat, Iran and Afghanistan as two neighboring states had severed their diplomatic relations and had no embassies and consulates in one another’s territories. Nevertheless, Afghans made endeavors to open a Consulate in Mashhad. This was only realized once Afghanistan gained independence which was recognized by Iran in 1920 and followed by opening of Afghanistan Embassy and Consulate in Tehran and Mashhad. Obstacles which hampered the development of diplomatic ties between Iran and Afghanistan in Qajar era were still in place after Afghanistan had achieved independence and the British as one of the major obstacles to establishment of Consulate and success of Consuls of Afghanistan in Mashhad. Mirza Abdollah Khan and Sardar Abdul Aziz Khan were the first Consuls General of Afghanistan who were based in Mashhad from 1922 to 1924, managing the Consulate. This paper will examine how the first Afghanistan Consulate was established in Mashhad and how the first Afghan Consuls General performed based on the existing documents and press excerpts.

Reports and correspondence issued and exchanged by Iran’s Diplomatic Missions and Consulates could be used as official sources for studying Iran’s political and social developments in recent centuries. One of the regions which influenced such developments was the Caucasus as a contiguous region to Iran. In order to understand, analyze and evaluate the situations of Iranian Nationals who lived in that area at the time, a collection of documents belonging to Iran Diplomatic Missions and Consulates in Caucasus (from 1944 to 19500) needed to be studied and evaluated. These documents, provided by the Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will be evaluated and studied to cast light on the population of Iranian immigrants in Caucasus and their working and living conditions, their problems after establishment of Capitulation (consular jurisdiction regime) between Iran and Russia, the performance of Iranian Missions and their staff in safeguarding rights of Iranian Nationals, and the role of Iranian Missions in preserving Iranian-Islamic legacies and values.

As the second Pahlavi’s government became consolidated, the grounds were gradually prepared for Iran to play a more important role in securing its boundaries in Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. Iran’s role in Persian Gulf zone in 1970s was developed and accelerated by a number of internal and external interrelated factors. The aim of this paper is to examine various factors causing the government to experience such a metamorphosis at the last decade of its existence. Having been influenced by such factors, Iran quickly turned into one of the military powers of the Region. In line with the hidden and explicit goals of the Washington statesmen and policies of the Iran Monarchy, the government of Iran embarked on a number of political and military actions in the Persian Gulf and beyond.

Iran- Brazil relations have long history dating back to more than a century, having followed a growing trend despite all the usual ups and downs. As Iran improved its presence in South America in recent years, the relations between Iran and Brazil have been developing in political, economic and trade fields. This paper, while analyzing the historical development of Iran-Brazil relations since their establishment, specifically after Islamic revolution in Iran, will examine co-evolution for development of ties and the existing perspective for fostering cooperation and challenges ahead.