In the Qajar Era, due to weaknesses in the economy, information, and technology Iran was unable to explore and exploit its oil reserves on its own. Therefore, just a few years after the exploitation of the first oil well in the world, foreign experts entered Iran to exploit its rich oil reserves.
In the contemporary history of Iran, granting oil concessions has been recorded as a negative for the shahs of Qajar Dynasty. By granting oil concessions, the rights of the nation were conceded to aliens; the economy of the country faced many losses; unpleasant legal, political, social, and economic consequences resulted; and the influence and power of the foreigners was strengthened and stabilized in Iran.
This paper aims to take a historical and legal look at oil contracts of the Qajar Era based on existing records and resources. It first reviews different types of oil contracts and the legal nature of concessions and then briefly mentions the oil concessions of the Qajar Era.
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