In the 1930s and 1950s, the trade and economic rivalry between Russia and Britain in Iran sharply worsened. Meanwhile, the increased volume of British and Russian exports to the Middle East markets has not been able to undermine Iran's traditional trade ties with neighboring nations. Time and new circumstances made their own adjustments to this relationship. For many centuries, there has been a mutually beneficial trade between Iranians and Turkmens. In the 1930s and 1950s, the main items of Turkmen exports to the northeastern regions of Iran were oil and salt. Despite the fact that Turkmen oil was significantly lower in quality than Baku oil, Iran still preferred the first one because of its cheapness. The second reason for the steady demand for this oil was that Turkmens more often exchanged it for Iranian grain, in contrast to Russian citizens who traded Baku oil for cash. Every year, up to 10 vessels with Turkmen oil and 18 vessels with salt arrived in Gilan. At the same time, oil and salt were imported by Gilan traders, since the Turkmens did not have large ships [AVPRI, II-3, 1831, op. 34, d.8, l. 98]. Up to 60 thousand poods of Turkmen oil were imported to Mazandaran at a price of 25-30 kopecks. for pud [AVPRI, II-3, 1831, op. 34, d. 9, l. 168 vol.]. Turkmens brought fish and caviar from the Gulf of Astrabad to the northern regions of Iran. As noted by the famous Russian economist Yu. A. Gagemeister, " Turkmens... they are constantly destroying the gear of Russian fishermen and forcing them to buy fish and caviar from them. They themselves beat sturgeons with harpoons with great skill, and when the Russians supply them with gear, they catch fish for them" [AVPRI, II-10, 1836-1844, d. 3, l. 66 vol.]. In addition to oil, salt and fish, coarse horse felt was imported to Iran from Turkmenistan. Relations between Iran and Turkmenistan have historically been very difficult. As the Russian consul in Astrabad, court adviser M. I. Chernyaev, noted, " Astrabad is in fr ... Читать далее