When the British and the Iranians are on opposite sides—the wily Albion and the exponents of taqiyya (the art of dissimulation)—nothing is as simple as it appears. This article unravels the various threads of the East–West conflict, as old as history itself, in the arena of some of the earliest civilisations, with the Euphrates–Tigris valley as the prize for powerful contenders. In particular, it analyses Iran's diplomatic strategy designed to project its influence by resisting Anglo-US and Israeli pressure and threats while making occasional conciliatory overtures.
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