Russia, Iran, and the 'Eastern Question' in the 1850s–1870s (Россия, Иран и «Восточный вопрос» в 1850-х–1870-х гг.)
This article examines Russian-Iranian relations in the context of the “Eastern Question” in the years 1850–1870. During the Crimean War (1853–1856) and the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, each side tried to exploit the other to their own advantage, though in general relations in the first half of the nineteenth century saw both countries finding good cause to cooperate with each other on issues of comment interest in the region. This article, however, identifies a sharp reduction in the role of Iran in the “Eastern Question” in the second half of the century as compared to the first half of the century, a decline the author attributes to the progressive decline of Iran as a regional diplomatic and military power.