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Ian Wereley Adjunct Research Professor, Department of History, ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University published a piece in the Conversation on the history of oil and imperialism in Iran

March 19, 2026

Time to read: 1 minutes

Ian Wereley

Adjunct Research Professor, Department of History, ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University

With the recent outbreak of hostilities in the Persian Gulf, the focus of international attention has returned to one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints: the .

Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil passes through this narrow strait. Its closure, alongside  â€” including the strategic export hub on  â€” has raised fears of a protracted conflict as .

Most news coverage and analysis has focused on the immediate threats posed , , and the global implications of the strait’s closure.

But beneath these headlines lies a much deeper story.

For more than a century, Iran has occupied a powerful place in the western imagination, characterized as a volatile region that sits atop .

Working within the  sub-field, my research and teaching focus on the early history of oil in Iran and the development of western oil cultures during the early 20th century.

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