The separation of bahrain from Iran

Abstract

The decline of Iran's Qajar dynasty, followed by a consequent politico-military crisis during the Pahlavi era, is associated with the firm establishment of British hegemony in the Persian Gulf with a view to guaranteeing India's security.At the same time, the discovery of oil and its importance to Britain's military and global economic empire doubled Britain's resolve to dominate the southern edge of the Persian Gulf. Hence, this paper investigates Bahrain's role in Britain's economic, political and military diplomacy in the region, along with the tactics Britannia employed to gradually separate Bahrain from Iran. The authors also disclose Iran's failed efforts to retain territorial integrity. Critical analysis suggests that by undermining traditional Iranian authority in Bahrain, Britain managed to protect India's western border while also gaining control over maritime traffic and the development and distribution of the region's oil resources.