Blaming the Shah for conceding oil extraction to the British ignores the harsh realities he faced. Sure, in hindsight, Iran *could have* extracted oil independently by training people, but that assumes the British would have just stood by and let it happen. The British didn’t just want access to oil-they wanted to control it, and they had the military and political leverage to make sure they did. It wasn’t a simple case of saying “no” and moving on. The Shah was dealing with a global superpower that had no problem overthrowing governments or starting wars to secure its interests. As for Baku, yes, it was a thriving oil hub, but that doesn’t mean Iran could replicate it overnight. Setting up an oil industry isn’t just about training people; it’s about resources, infrastructure, and time-luxuries the Shah didn’t have when the British were pressuring him. Let’s not forget, the rest of the history you mentioned includes years of British interference, coups, and economic exploitation. The Shah didn’t hand them the keys to Iran’s oil willingly-he was cornered by imperial powers that treated weaker nations like stepping stones for their empires.

It’s easy to credit the nationalists and clergy for their resistance, but let’s not forget that their efforts were often fragmented and reactive, not the kind of cohesive strategy needed to fully reclaim autonomy. And about losing large parts of our territory? The Shah didn’t want that either. He was coerced into signing treaties under duress, knowing that outright refusal could bring even more disastrous consequences-like full-scale invasions or puppet regimes. The Shah’s hands were tied in the face of imperial powers that could topple governments as easily as flipping a coin. It’s not fair to blame him for not reversing every humiliation when the odds were stacked so heavily against him.

“Smartly” feels like an oversimplification. The Persian public showed resilience, but their efforts were fragmented and reactive, not a strategic victory against imperial powers. The British still extracted oil, manipulated governments, and dominated Iran for decades.