3. British Empire and Persian Oil Exploitation
At the dawn of the 20th century, Britain recognized that control of oil meant global supremacy. Seeking energy security for its expanding naval fleet, the British Empire turned its gaze toward Persia, modern-day Iran, where vast oil reserves were discovered in 1908. Through strategic maneuvering, Britain established the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (later British Petroleum), securing exclusive extraction rights that significantly influenced Persian politics and sovereignty. This exploitation not only enriched British coffers but also cemented its geopolitical dominance, embedding oil into the fabric of imperial strategy and setting the stage for future conflicts over resource control in the Middle East.
