Middle East: Then, Now and Later

In the post WWI years (1919-1924) there was controversy over control of oil concessions in Iran. Dating back to 1872, Russia and Britain had been fighting over control and influence in Iran. Through several wars with the Iranian government, Russia had gained influence and land in the northern provinces of Iran. After the discovery of oil in the Middle East, Britain had made its first concession in Iran through private investor, Baron Julius de Reuter, in 1872. Leading up to WWI the British government had taken over concessions from private investors for fear of them selling out to foreign competitors, mainly France and The United States.
After WWI and the Bolshevik revolution, Iran was looking to be rid of British and Russian domination. Russia had pulled out their military forces and the Iranians looked at the new Soviet government as an ally, but still mistrusted Russian policy. Britain was looking to take over more of Iran. The Iranian government and Moslem leaders looked to the American capital system as their only hope and went at great lengths to acquire US investments and concessions. Unlike the British, the American government gave no official support to private investors and kept true to its foreign policy and did not get involved in governmental affairs. They stayed true to the open door policy of the time and did not request a military presence or government officials.
After more than one hundred years we are still fighting for oil. It is just a shame that we have changed our tactics to those that the British Empire used. We have obviously regressed in the situation, and as oil reserves are being depleted it will only get worse.