Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Why did Russian forces bombard Mashhad in 1912?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Mashhad
Shrine of the imam ʿAlī al-Riḍā, Mashhad, Iran.
In 1912, Russian forces bombarded Mashhad during a period of significant political instability in Iran. The military action coincided with the seizure of power by Yūsuf Khan, a local leader who had rebelled against the central government in Tehran in 1911.1
This event occurred against the backdrop of the Anglo-Russian Entente of 1907, which had effectively partitioned Iran into spheres of influence, granting Russia control over the northern regions. The bombardment caused damage to the sacred shrine complex of ‘Alī al-Riḍā, an act that provoked widespread indignation and anger among the Iranian population.12