British Diplomatic Oil Crisis: Contemporary Anglo-Saxon Geopolitical Rivalries in the Persian Gulf: Drawing a Lesson? Or Sir Anthony Eden‘s Delusion of Grandeur.

British
were concerned at an extremely convenient moment, especially
too since Persia was in a vulnerable and weak position in an open
hostility with Russia. Consequently, the British envoy, Sir Harford
Jones, skilfully exploited the situation arising from the position
of Persia with Russia in the war between them, and the
Franco-Russian peace treaty known as the Tilsit Agreement. As then
downfall of Napoleon came about, in the meanwhile, a new chapter was
opened in the region’s politics. Russia replaced France, and became
Britain’s principal threat to India.8

The pursuit of an active
British diplomatic manoeuvring in Persia,
during Persia’s conflict with Russia, eventually resulted in Persia
not being an entirely independent power. This consequently led to
the establishment of a British sphere of influence over Persia, that
lasted until the mid 1950s.

The treaty of 1814 between
Britain and Persia, which came about as a
result of Sir Harford Jones’ diplomatic efforts, did not after all,
contrary to what had been believed in Teheran, and even to the
disbelief of some British publicists, such as Rowlinson, mean that
Britain too had adopted an anti-Russian policy. Events were soon to
establish this.

The British treaty of 1814
had just followed a peace treaty between
Persia and Russia in 1813, following hostility which opened between
the two countries, which resulted in Persia’s defeat. The peace
treaty of 1813 between Persia and Russia was called the Treaty of
Gulistan. In that treaty, Persia lost most of the Caspian Sea to
Russia. Having lost Georgia to Russia in 1800, and a large portion
of the Caspian Sea in the Treaty of Gulistan in 1813, Persia’s
animosity against Russia intensified. On the other hand, Russia’s
appetite was not satisfied despite substantial territorial gains.
Therefore the 1813 treaty did not last long. In 1826 new war broke
out between the two countries, in which Persia again suffered a
series of setbacks. Peace was restored in 1828, by the Treaty of
Turkmanchai,