The Position of Arab Iraq in the Safavid-Ottoman Conflicts (During the years 914-952 AH) مقالة

ملخص الجهاز:

Due to its strategic geographical position, Arab Iraq played a vital role in regional and international communications and exchanges; its location on important trade routes, access to the waters of the Persian Gulf, and the presence of Shiite religious centers had turned this region into a focal point for both governments. As a strategic region, Arab Iraq, in addition to its unique geographical position, held special importance for Shah Ismail, who considered himself the protector of Shiism, due to its possession of Shiite religious centers such as Karbala and Najaf. Shah Ismail's movements in the southern and eastern regions of the Ottoman territory, especially in the Jazira region, were accompanied by concern and suspicion from Sultan Selim, because Shah Ismail's goal in these actions was to control strategic areas that connected Iran to Anatolia and the Levant via the route of Arab Iraq (Taqoush, 1436: 25-26). For the Ottomans, dominance over Arab Iraq meant controlling trade routes and consolidating influence in the region, while for the Safavids, maintaining Baghdad as an economic and religious center was essential for strengthening the internal and external legitimacy of their government. Thus, gaining access to the Persian Gulf and limiting the role of the Safavids in the region became an important priority for Sultan Suleiman, and to achieve this goal, controlling Arab Iraq, especially the Baghdad to Basra route, was essential.