The Political History of Ahwaz: Iranian Occupation, Colonialism, and the Ahwazi People (7)

Ahwaz as a Buffer Zone in Treaties Between Persia and the Ottoman Empire،Due to its geopolitical importance, Ahwaz served as a buffer zone between the Ottoman and Safavid Empires. It was comparable to Georgia, Kurdistan, and Luristan, regions situated between the two neighboring empires, which enjoyed semi-autonomous governance.

According to the 1639 treaty between the Ottoman and Safavid Empires, the frontier between the two powers spanned a wide area, starting from Armenia in the north, passing through Kurdistan, Luristan, and Ahwaz, and extending to the Arabian Gulf. Multiple iterations of the 1639 treaty were required over nearly four centuries to define and gain international recognition of the borders established in the original agreement.

Historical records indicate that Ahwaz enjoyed a greater degree of autonomy when neighboring empires were in constant competition for control, with its tribes seeking patronage from these powers. Under the 1639 Treaty of Zuhab, Ahwaz was part of the border region extending from Basra in Iraq to Fars in Persia.

Some historians note that “these border regions were isolated from distant capitals and inhabited by hostile Arabs… tribes competing for the patronage of rival empires, resulting in significant instability.” The changing nature of wars and ruling dynasties in Persia caused frequent shifts in its borders with the Ottomans.

For instance, Ottoman sovereignty over Ahwaz was acknowledged in the 1727 Treaty of Hamadan between the Ottomans and the Afghans, who had overthrown the Safavids. However, the 1746 Treaty of Kerden (Kurdaniya) between Persia and the Ottomans reaffirmed the terms of the 1639 Treaty of Zuhab.

Following the fragmentation of Persia after the collapse of the Safavids, the Ka’b tribes in Falahiyeh, located in southwestern Ahwaz, established a political entity known as the Emirate of Ka’b. This emirate reflected the political and social shifts in the region, as the local population united under a single leadership to address internal and external challenges.

The history of Ahwaz is characterized by constant changes and conflicts, with regional and international powers repeatedly attempting to assert control. These struggles have contributed to the formation of unique political and cultural identities in the region.