Britannica
Sources used in this answer
When was oil discovered in Iran?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Oil was first discovered in Iran in May 1908. This significant strike occurred in the southwestern part of the country following a 60-year oil-mining concession secured in 1901 by the English businessman William Knox D’Arcy. The discovery led to the formation of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company in 1909 and transformed the region into an area of enduring geopolitical interest.12