Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 267 Austrian Prime Minister

The railway from Tbilisi to Tehran has only been open for six months, but a large amount of goods and people are already traveling by rail.

Count Rothenlov looked out the window and thought it was quite nice. He thought it would be even better if the journey could be a little simpler.

God knows how much suffering he endured along the way. First, he took a boat from the Danube into the Black Sea, then arrived in Sukhumi, transferred to a horse-drawn carriage to Tbilisi, and then took a train to Tehran.

This is no easy feat, but what does it matter for the future of the empire?

The train slowly came to a stop; Tehran had arrived. The count led the Austrian delegation off the train, and at that moment, the welcoming party on the platform began to play music. The Grand Vizier shook hands with the delegation.

"Welcome to Tehran."

"Austria and Iran can cooperate in many areas. I have come here on the orders of the Austrian Emperor to negotiate with Iran."

The two rode together in a carriage and left the train station.

This was the Earl's first time visiting Tehran, so naturally he wanted to see the city.

By this time, Tehran had already taken on a modern appearance, and new social elements such as workers, intellectuals, and capitalists were making the capital more diverse.

Like Istanbul, but with a more promising future. It has modern factories that Istanbul lacks.

"Your Excellency Amir, I believe you are aware of the situation in the Balkans. For the sake of lasting peace in this region, I suggest that our two countries cooperate and work together to maintain it."

On the carriage, Count Rothenlov began to present his ideas to Amir. He had no choice but to say this; the Vienna Conference was about to begin, Austria had the weakest support, and Iran's support would greatly enhance Austria's standing.

"You are absolutely right, Your Excellency. Our country believes that Bosnia needs Austria's protection to achieve prosperity."

This start pleased the Count, as it indicated Iran's support for Austria's annexation of Bosnia. Of course, the specifics would need to be discussed further at the official residence.

The Austrian delegation, upon seeing the sights of Tehran, felt it was in no way inferior to Istanbul. Coupled with the achievements Iran had made last year, Austria felt compelled to ally with Iran to expand its influence.

Upon arriving at the Grand Vizier's residence, formal negotiations between the two sides commenced.

Forget the pleasantries; what we need to do now is compromise on interests.

"For the sake of peace in the Balkans, regions like Bosnia and Macedonia need to be under Austria's protection."

The Ottoman Empire was no longer viable, and the Balkans under its rule had to be handed over to Austria. This was not only for peace, but also to prevent Russian interference.

"Our country agrees to this in principle, but we must also take into account the situation in other countries. I suggest that your country improve its relations with the local authorities."

The mention of this count is exasperating. If things could be improved, they would. The problem is, Austria is almost always the enemy in the Balkans, making improvement extremely difficult. "Our country will make improvements, however, for the sake of lasting peace in this region, we still need your country's support."

Amir glanced at the map; Austria's ambitions were considerable. However, compared to other countries, it was already quite moderate; the others were either conquering the world or conquering Africa.

"Iran is willing to support Austria's legitimate demands, but hopes that Austria will support our rights in Syria and Cyprus."

This looks like a deal is being made. It seems Iran is preparing to unify the Middle East.

"I think there's no problem with that."

Anyway, I can't get my hands on either of those places, so since the other party wants them, I might as well support them. As long as I get those places, that's all that matters.

The two countries also negotiated a trade agreement. Austria's demand for kerosene has increased significantly, so it imports large quantities from Iran. Iran also needs Austria's machinery industry, so the two sides can complement each other.

Furthermore, Amir informed Rothenlov that the Shah would be visiting Vienna. This is further good news for the Austrian government, demonstrating that Iran highly values ​​its friendship with Austria, which they can rely on to further strengthen their ties with Iran.

Iran's influence continues to grow. In the east, the Emir of Herat has resumed paying tribute to Iran and signed a railway construction agreement. Iran also seeks to regain control in Afghanistan and has begun using trade and religious means to influence the region.

Kandahar and Kabul, under Iran's growing influence, have also had to cultivate good relations with Tehran. Compared to Britain, Iran seems to be closer to them.

Not only in Afghanistan, but even the princely states in northwestern India showed a tendency to gravitate towards Iran. The largest was the Khanate of Qarat, which submitted to Britain in 1839. However, the majority of its followers were Muslims who were dissatisfied, and they were also among the most fiercely resisting in Indian rebellions.

Iran's defeat of the Ottoman Empire led many to believe that only by allying with Iran could they escape British rule, and neighboring regions also prospered. How could the people of Karat not yearn for all this?
Britain also felt the pressure from Iran on India. Although the majority of Hindus were not a problem, instability in the northwest region would always threaten the interior and Bengal, the center of British rule.

But Britain couldn't do without religion either; they discovered that the long-standing conflict between Hindus and religion could become a powerful tool to consolidate their colonial rule.

To prevent a recurrence of national uprisings, they openly implemented a "divide and rule" policy. They deliberately maintained, and even exacerbated, the religious and ethnic divisions within India, using divisive tactics to weaken the forces for Indian national unity.

Of course, this doesn't mean Britain is backing down in the face of Iran. If Iran really has designs on India, then Britain can use its prized naval power to strike at their exports. If that happens, their economy collapses, and they'll sue for peace.

The current friendly attitude towards Britain is merely a facade; Britain needs Iran to act as a buffer between itself and Russia. It already controls major ports worldwide, and all countries' overseas trade depends on Britain's approval. No one can stop this.

By maintaining this offshore balance, Britain can preserve its status as a global superpower. Barring unforeseen circumstances such as the sudden rise of other nations, Britain could potentially continue its rule into the next century.

Nasser al-Din wasn't without ambitions towards India, but the timing wasn't right. The British navy was too formidable, so he had to find another way to bypass Britain. In a way, he had to thank the future German Emperor and a certain major Eastern power, who provided him with a clever way to circumvent Britain: the railway.

Naserdin plans to go to Vienna to personally explain this idea to Franz. If successful, Iran and Europe can have a better diplomatic environment in the future.

(End of this chapter)