Bahrain province
Province of the Imperial State of Iran / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bahrain Province (Persian: استان بحرین), also known as the 14th Province[1] and Mishmahig,[1] was a province in the administrative divisions of Iran between 1957 and 1971, that encompassed Bahrain archipelago (part of the present-day country Bahrain). During this period, Bahrain was under effective control of the Persian Gulf Residency and Iran regarded it under British colonial occupation.
Bahrain Province | |||||||
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Province of Imperial State of Iran | |||||||
1957–1971 | |||||||
Demonym | Bahraini | ||||||
Area | |||||||
• | 785.08 km2 (303.12 sq mi) | ||||||
• Type | Province | ||||||
History | |||||||
• Established | 12 November 1957 | ||||||
• Disestablished | 18 May 1971 | ||||||
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Today part of | Bahrain |
Although not under control of Iranian government, in order to stress the territorial claim of Iran, it was declared a province on 12 November 1957,[2] with two parliamentary seats dedicated to it[3] (in the early 1900s, one parliamentary seat was reserved for Bahrain).[4] A year later in 1958 Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa (ruler of Bahrain) pledged allegiance to Iran.[5] One of his predecessors, Sheikh Muhammad bin Khalifah Al Khalifa had in 1851 asked for Iranian protection against Wahabbis and declared his preparedness to be a Qajar Iran protectorate. However, the British forced him to become their protectorate.[6]
Before the province was detached in 1957, Iran considered it as part of Fars Province.[7] During Safavid Iran, Bahrain was subordinate to Bushehr governorship and Zubarah (located in modern-day country of Qatar) was its capital city. In 1737, under Afsharid dynasty Bahrain was made subject to Fars governorship.[8]
The province officially ceased to exist with a resolution approved by the lower house on 14 May 1971 with 184 votes to 4, and unanimously approved by the upper house on 18 May 1971; and Iran recognized Bahrain as an independent sovereign state.[2]