|
qkg:contextText
|
Iranian leaders had always regarded the creation of the Iraqi state by Britain in 1921 as a deliberate act of provocation against Iran's interests. They saw Iraq as a British military base in the Middle East and the British air base at Habaniyah, near Baghdad, was always regarded as a threat to Iran's oilfields in Khuzestan. In 1941 British forces, using Iraq as a springboard, invaded and occupied southern Iran. In 1951-3 the British again used Iraq as a military base against Iran during the oil nationalisation crisis. Iran also saw itself as the natural protector of the shi'ites who formed 60 per cent of Iraq's population, as well as the Kurds who belonged to the larger ethnic Iranic family. As far as Iranian ruling elites were concerned there had been no justification in turning Mesopotamia into a new nation-state. (pp. 204-205) (it) |
