A British Orchestration for Oil Dominance
Introduction
The Iranian Constitutional Revolution (1905–1911) is often portrayed as a movement to establish a justice system and curb monarchical power. However, compelling historical and oral evidence reveals that it primarily served British geopolitical and oil interests, with constitutionalism as a pretext to mask these motives.
- The D’Arcy Concession and British Oil Dominance
In 1901, William Knox D’Arcy secured a 60-year exclusive concession for oil exploration in Iran, culminating in the 1908 oil discovery in Masjed Soleiman. This agreement, heavily favoring British interests, allocated Iran only 16% of net profits. The British Navy, seeking energy independence from American oil supplies, viewed the D’Arcy Concession as a cornerstone of its strategy, ensuring a stable and controlled oil supply. - Ahmad Shah’s Resistance to the D’Arcy Concession
In the 1930s, Ahmad Shah Qajar firmly opposed renewing the D’Arcy Concession, arguing it predated the constitutional era and lacked legitimacy. His demand for revised terms sparked diplomatic tensions, compelling Britain to engage international bodies like the League of Nations to safeguard its interests. - Oral Historical Evidence: Abul Fath Mahvi’s Testimony
A pivotal oral history account from Abul Fath Mahvi, a Qajar family member and court advisor, recorded on April 26, 1985, in Geneva, underscores British maneuvering. Mahvi asserted that Ahmad Shah’s refusal to extend the oil contract provoked British political interference, aimed at undermining the Qajar dynasty. He described the Constitutional Revolution as a strategic facade to diminish Ahmad Shah’s authority and secure British oil interests. - The Constitutional Revolution as a British Instrument
Historical analyses confirm that Britain provided financial and political support to clerics and constitutionalist activists to destabilize the Qajar monarchy. The establishment of a justice system was less about democratic ideals and more a tool for foreign intervention, enabling Britain to reshape Iran’s political structure to align with its oil-driven agenda. - Reza Khan’s Coup and the Consolidation of British Influence
The British-backed 1921 coup elevated Reza Khan to power, marking a turning point in Iran’s political landscape. Although the D’Arcy Concession was canceled in 1932, a new 1933 agreement entrenched the Anglo-Persian Oil Company’s (later British Petroleum) dominance, solidifying Britain’s structural and legal control over Iran’s oil resources.
Conclusion
The Constitutional Revolution was less a pursuit of Iranian liberty and more a calculated British maneuver to secure oil interests.
Ahmad Shah’s opposition to the D’Arcy Concession provided Britain with a pretext to orchestrate the revolution, targeting the Qajar dynasty’s removal.
The rise of Reza Shah and the renegotiated oil agreements cemented British colonial dominance within Iran’s governance framework.
References
William Knox D’Arcy, “D’Arcy Concession,” Wikipedia (accessed recently).
Navabi, Hesamedin. “The D’Arcy Concession.” Journal of South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Winter 2010.
Davoudi. “Persian Petroleum and the British Empire.” Oxford DPhil, 2017.
Machineries of Oil, Chapter: “Translating Mineral Rights,” MIT Press.
Witton, Trevor. “The Concession and Oil in Iran: The Evolution of a Concept.” Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law 34, no. 4 (2016): 455–460.
“Anglo-Persian Oil Company,” Wikipedia (accessed recently).
“The Persian-British Oil Dispute,” Foreign Affairs, April 1933.
Ibid.
Mahvi, Abul Fath. Interview, Harvard Iranian Oral History Project, Geneva, April 26, 1985, p. 8.
Shafiee, Katayoun. “Technopolitics of a Concessionary Contract.” International Journal of Middle East Studies.
Navabi, Hesamedin. “D’Arcy Concession … Reza Khan Became the First Shah.” Journal of South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, 18–33.
“Imperial Power, Anti-Imperial Resistance.” Review of International Studies, 2024.
“The D’Arcy Concession Was Cancelled in 1932,” Wikipedia.
“History of Iran–United Kingdom Relations,” Wikipedia (accessed recently).
