1933 BRITISH-IRAN OIL AGREEMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF ANTI-IMPERIALIST STRUGGLE

Abstract

The strained relations between the United Kingdom and Iran following the cancellation of the D'Arcy Concession in 1932 were reshaped with the signing of the 1933 concession agreement. The apparent objective of the agreement was to collaborate in developing Iran's petroleum reserves, increasing oil production, and ensuring its distribution. This concession agreement, valid for 60 years, was widely perceived in Iran as a continuation of the D'Arcy Concession. Consequently, the binding provisions of the 1933 agreement were mostly interpreted as leading to the exploitation of the country's petroleum resources and the utilization of national wealth for the interests of foreign companies. This situation fueled anti-imperialist groups and triggered a growing backlash against Reza Shah Pahlavi. In this context, the 1933 Anglo-Iranian Petroleum Agreement marks a significant turning point in Iran's petroleum industry and its relationship with foreign interventions. While some regarded this agreement as a betrayal by Reza Shah, others argued that it was signed under the most favorable conditions possible. In conclusion, when examined in the context of the anti-imperialist struggle, the 1933 agreement reveals the Iranian people's response to foreign interventions and the rise of a nationalist movement. From Reza Shah's perspective, this agreement can be seen as a kind of victory against the British. As petroleum constituted Iran's most crucial source of income at that time and the Pahlavi government lacked the capability to extract and process it independently, Reza Shah sought ways to benefit from the agreement.

This study examines the 1933 concession agreement, discusses the diverging perspectives it generated, and explores the socio-political consequences it brought about in Iran.

Keywords: England, Iran, Oil, Concession, Imperialism.