List of wars involving Iran

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of wars involving the Islamic Republic of Iran and its predecessor states. It is an unfinished historical overview.

Elamite civilisation

More information Conflict, Ancient Iranian State (and allies) ...
Conflict Ancient Iranian State (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Elamite invasion of Sumer[1]

(Circa 2600 BC)

Awan Elam Sumer Victory Deposition of Balulu, end of First Dynasty of Ur and establishment of the Elamyte dynasty.
Sumerian invasion of Elam

(Circa 2400 BC)

Awan Elam

Kish Akshak Umma

Sumer Defeat Eannatum manage to conquer parts of Elam (destroying Susa) and develop one of the first recorded empires.
Elamite-Sumer skirmishes.[2][3]

(Circa 2400 BC)

Awan Elam

Marhasi

Sumer Stalemate Elamite's success to expel Sumer's incursions from Iranian Plateau and sack some Sumer city states in Mesopotamia, but governors like Enentarzi expel them from its domains.
Akkadian conquest of Elam[4]

(Circa 2300-2200 BC)

Elam

Marhasi Gutian people Pashime

Akkadian Empire Defeat South-Western Iran is conquered by Sargon of Akkad, his son Rimush defeat the revolts led by Abalgamash, and Manishtushu expands forward Anshan and seizure control of Persian Gulf.
Narum-Sin campaign on Elam

(Circa 2200 BC)

Elam

Marhasi co-belligerent: Sumer rebels Gutian people

Akkadian Empire Ceasefire Accadian control of Khuzestan is reinforced, installing imperial governors to counter the power from native kings like Khita.[5]
First Shar-Kali-Sharri campaign on Elam

(Circa 2100 BC)

Elam Akkadian Empire Defeat Status quo ante bellum
Kutik-Inshushinak campaign against Gutians[6]

(Circa 2100 BC)

Akkadian Empire Gutian people Victory Elamyte-Accadians expand territories on the Zagros Mountains.
Elamyte independence war against Akkadians[7][8]

(Circa 2090 BC)

Elam

co-belligerent: Uruk

Akkadian Empire

Gutian people

Victory
Sumerian invasion of Elam[8][9]

(Circa 2090 BC)

Elam

Lagash

Neo-Sumerian Empire

co-belligerent

Shimashki dynasty

Defeat The King of Sumer and Akkad, Ur-Nammu and his son Shulgi, conquers parts of Elam surrounding Susa. The rest of Elam is conquered by the Shimashki dynasty, after the death of Puzur-Inshushinak.
Sumerian border skirmishes on the north-east[10][11]

(Circa 2000 BC)

Simurrum

Lullubi co-belligerent Elam

Neo-Sumerian Empire Inconclusive Tribal invasions from Western Iran to Sumer are stopped.
Elamyte conquest of Sumer[12][13]

(Circa 2004/1940 BC)

Shimashki Elam Neo-Sumerian Empire Victory Elamyte king, Kindattu, capture Sumerian king, Ibbi-Sin. End of the third dynasty of Ur and Elamyte military occupation and rule for 21 years.
Amorite conquest of Sumer[14]

(Circa 1900 BC)

Shimashki Elam Amorites Defeat Ishbi-Erra expel the Elamytes from Ur, then gain the title of King of Sumer and expand over Sumer and Akkad.
Revolts against Assyrian domain[15][16]

(722–702 BC)

Babylonia

Aram (Ancient Syrian cities)

Philistia

Ancient Levant cities

Rebel Syro-Hittite states

Rebel Mannaea

Medes

Rebel Ellipi

Supported by:

Neo-Assyrian Empire

Cimmerians


Kingdom of Judah
Stalemate
Assyrian conquest of Elam

(655–639 BC)

Elam Neo-Assyrian Empire Defeat Assyrian conquers the Elamyte Domains.
Close

Median kingdom

More information Conflict, Ancient Iranian State (and allies) ...
Conflict Ancient Iranian State (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Assyrian invasions of Media (10th – late 7th centuries BC) Medes Assyrian Empire Defeat Kingdoms and city-states of western Iran became Assyrian vassals
Median invasion of Assyria (the late 7th century BC) Medes

Scythians

Other Iranian peoples

Assyrian Empire Victory Invasion of the Assyrian Empire by a coalition of Iranian peoples, led by Kashtariti of Media
  • End of Assyrian rule in Media
  • Formation of an independent Median kingdom
  • Median invasion of Assyria repelled
Medo-Babylonian conquest of the Assyrian Empire
(626–609 BC)
Median Kingdom
Babylonia

Persians

Assyrian Empire Victory Alliance between various people of the region against the Assyrian Empire, led by the Median Kingdom and Babylonia
Scythian invasion of Media (653–652 BC) Median Kingdom Scythians Defeat War between two groups of Iranian peoples
  • Conquest of Media by Scythians
  • End of Scythian rule in Media in 597 BC, during reign of Cyaxares
Siege of Harran
(609 BC)
Medes
Babylonia
Assyria

Egypt

Victory The Assyrian insurgency
Battle of Eclipse
(585 BC)
Medes Kingdom of Lydia Undecided The battle ended due to an eclipse.
Medo-Persian conflict

(553–550 BCE)

Medes Empire Persians Defeat

(Regime change)

Rise of Cyrus the Great.
Close

Achaemenid Empire

More information Conflict, Persia (and allies) ...
Conflict Persia (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Achaemenid Empire
(550–330 BC)
Battle of Hyrba
(552 BC)
Persians Medes Empire Victory
Persian Revolt
(552–549 BC)
Persians Median Empire Victory By conquering Media, Iran became an empire.
Battle of the Persian border
(551 BC)
Persians Medes Empire Victory Persian retreat to Pasargadae
Conquest of Lydia
(547 BC)
Persian Empire Lydian Empire Victory Lydia annexed by Iran
Cyrus' first eastern campaign (545–540 BC) Persian Empire Gedrosia Victory Persian conquest of Bactria, Arachosia, Sogdia, Saka, Chorasmia, Margiana and other provinces in the east after initial defeat
Conquest of Babylonia
(540–539 BC)
Persian Empire Neo-Babylonian Empire Victory Neo-Babylonian Empire annexed by Iran.
Cyrus' second eastern Campaign (533 BC) Persian Empire Gedrosia Victory Cyrus the Great crossed the Hindu Kush mountains and collected tribute from the Indus vassalage cities.
Cyrus' final Campaign to the North[17]

(529 BC)

Persian Empire Scythians

Indians

Defeat The Empress Tomyris kills Cyrus the Great in vengeance for the death of his son, Spargapises.

The river Oxus, or Amu Darya, becomes the limit between Persians and Scythians.

Conquest of Egypt
(525 BC)
Persian Empire Kingdom of Egypt Victory Egypt annexed by Iran
Persian incursions into Nubia[18]

(526 BC)

Persian Empire Kingdom of Kush Defeat Cambyses II fails to expand Achaemenid domains into the south to reach the limits of former Egyptian Empire.[19] Nubians maintains its independence and Persians establish frontier on Elephantine.
Conquest of India (Indus Valley)

(518 – 323 BCE)

Persian Empire Mahajanapadas Victory Achaemenid military occupation of northwestern regions of India for about two centuries
European Scythian campaign
(513 BC)
Persian Empire Scythians in European Scythia Victory Achaemenid domination of the European Black Sea regions
Greek Revolt

(499 BC–493 BC)

Persian Empire Greeks Victory Persia re-establishes control over Greek regions in Asia Minor and Cyprus
Greco-Persian War (First)

(492–490 BC)

Persian Empire Greeks Undecided Persia conquers Macedonia and the Cycladic Islands, re-subjugates Thrace, but fails in an attempt to subjugate Athens and Sparta
Egyptian Revolt[20][21]

(486 BC)

Persian Empire Egyptian rebels Victory Revolt suppressed.
Babylonian revolts (484 BC) Persian Empire Victory Persian punish the rebelled Babylonian cities, reducing the size of their Satrapies and fomenting minority religions.
Greco-Persian War (Second)

(480–479 BC)

Persian Empire Greeks Defeat Macedonia, Thrace and Ionia regain independence from Persia

Achaemenid destruction of Athens

Wars of the Delian League

(477–449 BC)

Persian Empire Delian League

Egyptian rebels led by Inaros II (until 454 BC)

Defeat in Greece

Victory in Egypt

Peace of Callias
Peloponnesian War
(431–404 BC)
Peloponnesian League (led by Sparta)

Supported by:
Achaemenid Empire

Delian League (led by Athens) Victory Dissolution of the Delian League; Spartan hegemony over Athens and its allies
Battle of Cunaxa
(401 BC)
Persian Empire Cyrus the Younger Victory Artaxerxes II still in full control of the kingdom
Corinthian War
(395–387 BC)
Athens
Argos
Corinth
Thebes
Persian Empire
Other allies
Sparta
Peloponnesian League
Victory

(Peace of Antalcidas

dictated by Iran)

Ionia ceded back to Achaemenid Iran; Boeotian league dissolved; Union of Argos and Corinth dissolved.
Evagoras I's Revolt

(391–376 BC)

  • Battle of Citium
Persian Empire Salamis (Cyprus)

Supported by:

Victory Evagoras I recognized the lordship of Persia over Cyprus.
Artaxerxes' II Cadusian Campaign
(385 BC)
Persian Empire Cadusii Victory Negotiated peace with rival chiefs
Revolt of the Satraps
(372–362 BC)
Persian Empire Rebel satrapies Victory Rebellions crushed
Phoenician and Cypriot revolt during the reign of Artaxerxes III (351-340 BC) Persian Empire Kingdom of Sidon

Hellespontine Phrygia

Salamis (Cyprus)

Supported by:

Victory Revolt suppressed.
Second conquest of Egypt
(c. 351-340 BC)
Persian Empire

Supported by:

Egypt

Supported by:

Victory Egypt is conquered for a second time by Iran
Khabash Revolt

(338 – c.335 BC)

Persian Empire
Kingdom of Kush
Egyptian and Nubian rebels Victory
Macedonian invasion of Iran
(355–328 BC)
Persian Empire Macedonia Defeat

(Regime change)

Iran conquered by the army of Alexander the Great
Close

Hellenistic era

More information Conflict, Persianizated State (and allies) ...
Conflict Persianizated State (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Macedonian Empire (330–312 BC)
Indian campaign of Alexander the Great (327–325 BC) Macedonia Ancient India Victory Hellenic conquest of great part of the Indus Valley.

Iranic confrontation with the Nanda Empire of Magadha.

Wars of the Diadochi

(322–281 BC)

First War:

Second War:

Third War:

First War:

Second War:

Third War:

Defeat Death of Perdiccas.

Seleucus established himself in Babylon in 312 BC, then conquest Persia.

Seleucid Empire (312-129 BC)
Babylonian War (311–309 BCE) Seleucid Empire Antigonid dynasty Victory Seleucid control of Babylonia, Media, and Elam
Seleucid–Mauryan war (305–303 BCE) Seleucid Empire Maurya Empire Defeat Treaty of the Indus
First Parni invasion of Margiana

(280 BC)

Seleucid Empire Parni Victory The military capabilities of the Parni are weakened.
Second Parni invasion of Margiana

(248–246 BC)

Seleucid Empire Parni Victory Parni are briefly neutralized.
Seleucus' Iranian Campaign

(245–235 BC)

Seleucid Empire Upper Satrapies Defeat
Syrian Wars

(217–145 BC)

Antigonid Macedonia

Seleucid Empire

Arabs

Ptolemaic Egypt

Libyans Gauls

Stalemate Coele-Syria intermittently changes of sovereign.
Antiochus's Bactrian Campaign

(208–206 BCE)

Seleucid Empire Greco-Bactrian Kingdom Victory Pirric Victory
Roman–Seleucid War (192–188 BC)[22] Seleucid Empire

Supported by:

Co-belligerent:

Roman Republic

Supported by:

Defeat Peace of Apamea
Campaigns of Artaxias I

(189–165 BCE)

Seleucid Empire

Atropatene
Kingdom of Cataonia
Kingdom of Pontus

Lesser Armenia

Kingdom of Iberia

Kingdom of Armenia

Kingdom of Sophene

Defeat The regions of Caspiana, Faunitida, Basolropeda, Tmorik, Karenitis, Derksen, Akilisene and Antitaurus are annexed to Armenia.
Maccabean Revolt

(167–141 BCE)

Seleucid Empire Maccabees Defeat Hasmonean Judea is formed.
Close

Parthian Empire

More information Conflict, Persia (and allies) ...
Conflict Persia (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Parthian Empire
(247 BC–224 AD)
Parni Conquest Parthia

(238 BC)

Parthian Empire Seleucid Empire Victory • Rise of the Parthian Empire

• The beginning of the Seleucid–Parthian Wars

Seleucid–Parthian Wars
(238 BC–129 BC)
Parthian Empire

Parni

Seleucid Empire

Persis Elymais Characene

Scythians

Arabs

Victory • Expulsion of the Seleucids from Iran, ending Hellenistic period there.
Parthian–Bactrian War (150 BC) Parthian Empire Greco-Bactrian Kingdom Victory
  • Western Bactria annexed to the Parthian Empire.
  • Greek debilitation and arise of Kushan Empire in the zone
Second Parthian-Kushan War

(between c. 130 CE to c. 140 CE)

Parthian Empire Kushan Empire Defeat Kanishka I repels the invasion
Battle of Ecbatana

(129 BC)

Parthian Empire Seleucid Empire Victory End of Hellenistic rule in Iran
Nomad invasion of Drangiana[27][28]

(128-115 BC)

Parthian Empire Indo-Scythians

Yuezhi

Victory Parthian reconquers western Bactria and expand into Amu Darya and Arachosia
Parthian invasion of Armenia

(120–100 BCE?)

Parthian Empire

Atropatene

Kingdom of Armenia Victory Parthians add territories
Parthian expedition to Arabia[29]

(119 BC)

Parthian Empire Ancient Arabs Victory End of Arab raids on Babylonia.
Mithridates II's war with the Seleucids.

(112-109 BC)

Parthian Empire

Characene

Seleucid Empire

Elymais

Victory Parthian conquers Mesopotamia and reduce Seleucids into Syria
Chinese–Parthian War[30]

(104–102 BC)

Parthian Empire Han China Stalemate Emperor Wu of Han forced Mithridates II of Parthia to start commercial relations and the sell of Persian horse, but Parthians maintain its Sphere of influence on Fergana Valley.
Armenian–Parthian War
(87–85 BC)
Parthian Empire Kingdom of Armenia Defeat Osroene and Atrpatakan loyalty to Tigranes the Great
Battle of Carrahe

(53 BC)

Parthian Empire Roman Republic Victory • Repelling the danger of the Romans

Crassus killed

• Roman desire to retaliate for Julius Caesar's planned invasion of the Parthian Empire

Liberators' civil war

(43–42 BC)

Liberatores

Supported by:

Parthian Empire[31]

Second Triumvirate

Supported by:

Ptolemaic Egypt

Defeat The Second Triumvirate wins the Roman Civil War, then reinstates control over the eastern provinces.
Pompeian–Parthian invasion of 40 BC

(40–38 BC)

Parthian Empire Roman Republic Defeat Status quo ante bellum
Antony's Parthian War

(36–20 BC)

Parthian Empire

Atropatene

Hasmonean Kingdom

Roman Republic

Kingdom of Armenia

Galatia

Cappadocia

Pontus

Herodian Kingdom of Judea

Victory • Antony's was unsuccessful in campaign against Iran

• Ended by formal peace in 20 BC

Gondophares conquest on the East

(20–10 BC)

Indo-Parthian Kingdom Indo-Scythians

Indo-Greek Kingdom

Victory Gondophares conquers Arachosia, Seistan, Sindh, Punjab, and the Kabul valley.
Pharasmanes I of Iberia invasion of Armenia

(35 AD)

Parthian Empire

Kingdom of Armenia

Kingdom of Iberia Defeat Orodes of Armenia is deposed
Kushan invasion of Indo-Parthia

(50s AD)

Indo-Parthian Kingdom Kushan Empire Defeat Kushans conquer Indo-Parthian territories in northern India.
Iberian–Armenian War

(50–51 AD/51–53 AD)

Kingdom of Armenia

Roman Empire (until 51)


Kingdom of Armenia

Parthian Empire

Kingdom of Iberia
Kingdom of Iberia

Roman Empire

Victory The Roman–Parthian War of 58–63 start
Roman–Parthian War of 58–63

(58–63 AD)

Parthian Empire

Kingdom of Armenia

Roman Empire

Roman clients

Sophene

Lesser Armenia

Iberia

Commagene

Pontus

Stalemate Treaty of Rhandeia
Roman–Parthian Wars
(66 AD–216)
Parthian Empire
Kingdom of Armenia
Roman Empire
Pontus
Status quo ante bellum Borders changed several times.
Trajan's Parthian campaign

(115–117)

Parthian Empire

co-belligerent:

Jewish/Judean zealots[citation needed]

Babylonian rebels

Armenian rebels

Roman Empire

Client Parthian state

Stalemate
Roman–Parthian War of 161–166

(161–166)

Parthian Empire

Pro-Parthian Edessans

Roman Empire

Pro-Roman Edessans

Defeat Minor Roman territorial gains and Armenia consolidated as a Roman client
Battle of Ctesiphon (198) Parthian Empire Roman Empire Defeat Roman sacks Persian capital
Parthian War of Caracalla

(216–217)

Parthian Empire Roman Empire Victory
  • Rome is forced to pay tribute to Parthia
Close

Sasanian Empire

More information Conflict, Persia (and allies) ...
Conflict Persia (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Sassanid Empire
(224–651)
Battle of Hormozdgan

(224)

Sassanids Parthian Empire Victory

(Regime change)

• Fall of the Parthian Empire

• Rise of the Sasanian Empire

Sasanian conquest of Sakastan (225–226)[32] Sassanids Indo-Parthian Kingdom Victory Consolidation of the Sasanian Empire on eastern Persia
Ardashir I invasion of Armenia

(226–238)

Sasanian Empire Kingdom of Armenia Defeat Sassanid withdrawal
First Mesopotamian campaign of Ardashir I

(229–233)

Sasanian Empire Roman Empire

Kingdom of Hatra

Inconclusive Both sides get territorial gains.
Second Mesopotamian campaign of Ardashir I

(237–240)

Sasanian Empire Roman Empire

Kingdom of Hatra

Victory The Sasanian Empire conquers several cities including Nisibis (237), Carrhae (238) and Hatra (240).
Shapur I campaign on the East

(241–242)

Sasanian Empire Victory Persia annex territories as far as "Purushapura" (Peshawar) and the Hindu-Kush or even south of it.

Those includying Sogdiana, Bactria, and Gandhara. Kushans are deposed and replaced by the Kushanshah

Sasanian campaign of Gordian III

(242–244)

Sasanian Empire Roman Empire

Germanic and Goth allies

Victory The Sasanian Empire conquers Armenia and Mesopotamia
Mariades' Revolt

(252/259)

Antioch rebels

Sasanian Empire

Roman Empire Victory Persian intervention in the Crisis of the Third Century.
Siege of Nisibis

(252)

Sasanian Empire Roman Empire Victory Persian capture of Nisibis
Battle Of Barbalissos

(253)

Sasanian Empire Roman Empire Victory Shapur's army won against Valerian's army
Siege of Antioch (253) Sasanian Empire Roman Empire Victory Persian capture of Antioch
Siege of Dura-Europos (256) Sasanian Empire Roman Empire Victory Persian capture of Dura-Europos
Battle of Edessa

(260)

Sasanian Empire Roman Empire

Germanic and Goth allies

Victory
Siege of Antioch (260) Sasanian Empire Roman Empire Victory Sasanian Empire conquers Antioch
Siege of Caesarea Cappadocia (260) Sasanian Empire Roman Empire Victory Sasanian Empire conquers Caesarea Cappadocia
Odaenathus' Sasanian Campaign

(261–266)

Sasanian Empire Roman Empire

Palmyrene Kingdom

Defeat The Sasanians lost all the territories they had gained in the Battle of Edessa
Sasanian revolts against Barham II

(274–293)

Sasanian Empire Victory Revolts suppressed
Carus' Sasanian Campaign

(283)

Sasanian Empire Roman Empire Victory Withdrawal of the Roman forces
Narseh's insurrection

(293)

Sasanian Empire

Zoroastrians

Narseh's forces

Manichaeists

Narseh's Victory Bahram III is deposed, Kartir reforms are abolished, Zoroastrian theocracy ends and Sasanian empire is centralised.
Galerius' Sasanian campaigns

(296–298)

Sasanian Empire Roman Empire

Kingdom of Armenia

Defeat Persian invasion of Mesopotamia and Armenia success. Then Roman expels Persians from Armenia, capture Narseh's wife, raid Ctesiphon and gains territory on the Peace of Nisibis (299).
Shapur ll's Arab Campaign

(325)

Sasanian Empire Arabs Victory
Perso-Roman wars of 337–361

(337–361)

Sasanian Empire

Xionites/Kidarites

Roman Empire Indecisive Status quo ante bellum
Wars of Shapur II with the Chionites and Kushans[33]

(350–358)

Sasanian Empire

Gupta Empire

Xionites/Kidarites

Kushan Empire

Victory
  • Expansion of Sasanian control to the south-east, beyond the Indus River.
  • Nomad peoples, led by the chief Grumbates, are forced to serve as mercenaries in the Persian army against Romans.
Sasanian–Kidarite wars

(350–466)

  • Sasanian campaigns in Central Asia
Sasanian Empire
Alchon Huns
Hepthalites
Kidarites Victory
  • Expansion of Sasanian control to the north-east, re-occupying Bactria and going further to Transoxiana.
  • Start of Gupta–Kidarite conflict, as Kidarites were pushed to North India
Shapur II's invasion of Armenia (350) Sasanian Empire

Caucasian Albania

Kingdom of Armenia

Roman Empire

Defeat Rise of Arshak II
Shapur II's Armenian campaign (359–361) Sasanian Empire Kingdom of Armenia

Roman Empire

Victory Death of Arshak II
Kidarites invasions of Bactria

(360s)

Sasanian Empire Kidarites Defeat Kidara I conquers Bactria and get the title of Kushanshah
Julian's Persian expedition

(363)

Sasanian Empire

Arab allies

Roman Empire

Kingdom of Armenia

Victory Sasanian annexation of 5 regions & 15 major fortresses from the Roman Empire in addition to the consequent annexation of Armenia
Armeno-Sassanid War of 363–371 Sasanian Empire

Caucasian Albania

Roman Empire

Kingdom of Armenia

Defeat Persians depose Arshak II of Armenia. Then

Armenia is under Roman suzerainty through Pap of Armenia entronization.

Shapur III's Armenian Campaign (378–386) Sasanian Empire Kingdom of Armenia

Eastern Roman Empire

Victory Peace of Acilisene
Hunnic invasion of the Sasanian Empire

(395)

Sasanian Empire

co-belligerent
Roman Empire

Hunnic Empire Victory Huns quit
Roman–Sasanian War of 421–422

(421–422)

Sasanian Empire

Lakhmid Arabs

Eastern Roman Empire Inconclusive Status quo ante bellum
Byzantine–Sasanian War of 440

(440)

Sasanian Empire Eastern Roman Empire Indecisive Status quo ante bellum
  • Both empires agreed to battle northern nomads (Scythians and Vandals).
Vardan's War

(449–451)

Sasanian Empire

Pro-Sasanian Armenians

Christian Armenians Victory Following Persian the victory, Yazdegerd jailed some Armenian priests and nobles and appointed a new governor for Armenia but, the Armenians gained religious freedom for their Christian faith.
Sassanian War of Succession[34]

(457–459)

Loyals to Hormizd III Loyals to Peroz I Peroz Victory Peroz deposes his older brother
Albanian's Revolt

(457–459)

Sasanian Empire Caucasian Albania (independentists)

Hunnic Empire

Defeat Vache II of Albania, of the Arsacid dynasty of Caucasian Albania, success in stablish an independent Kingdom.
Kidarite-Sassanid War (464–466)[35][36] Sasanian Empire

Alchon Huns

Kidarites Victory End of Kidarite menace to Persia in Bactria
Vahan's War

(481–484)

Sasanian Empire Sasanian Armenia

co-belligerent: Hephthalite Empire

Defeat Treaty of Nvarsak
  • Religious freedoom for Christians in Armenia is seizured.
Hephthalite–Sasanian Wars

(484–565)

Sasanian Empire

First Turkic Khaganate

Hephthalite Empire Victory
  • The Hephthalite Empire breaks into minor kingdoms.
  • Sasanians and Turks established a frontier for their zones of influence along the Oxus river
Byzantine–Sassanid Wars
(502–628)
Sasanian Empire Byzantine Empire Status quo ante bellum Borders changed several times.
Anastasian War

(502–506)

Sasanian Empire Byzantine Empire Draw Status quo ante bellum[37]

•Byzantium pays a small amount of money[38]:77

Aksumite invasion of Himyar

(518–525)

Himyarite Kingdom
  • Jewish Himyarites

Supported by:
Sasanian Empire

Kingdom of Aksum

Supported by:
Byzantine Empire

Defeat
Iberian War

(526–532)

Sasanian Empire

Lakhmids

Sabirs

Byzantine Empire

Iberia

Ghassanids

Huns

Heruli

Aksumites

Kinda

Inconclusive *Sasanians retained Iberia

Byzantines retained Lazica

Byzantines

Lazic War

(541–562)

Sasanian Empire Byzantine Empire

Goths

Ghassanids

Disputed Fifty-Year Peace Treaty
Aksumite–Persian wars
(570–578)
Sasanian Empire

Supported by:

Jewish Himyarites

Kingdom of Aksum

Supported by:
Byzantine Empire

South Arabian Christians

Victory Ethiopians expelled from the Himyarite Kingdom. (Yemen is annexed by the Sasanian Empire)
Armenian Revolt of 571–572 Sasanian Empire Mamikonian

Armenian Christians

Defeat Start of War for the Caucasus and end of Persian attempts to assimilate Armenians.
War for the Caucasus

(572–591)

Sasanian Empire

Lakhmids

Byzantine Empire

Ghassanids

Mamikonians

Huns

Defeat Khosrow II is restored to the Sasanian throne.

Khosrow II gives the Byzantine Empire most of Persian Armenia and western half of Iberia after the Sasanian civil war of 589–591

• Byzantium stops paying tribute to Sasanian empire[39]

First Perso-Turkic War
(588–589)
Sasanian Empire Hephthalite Empire
Göktürks
Victory The Sassanids captured Balkh.
Sasanian civil war of 589–591 Sasanian Empire Supporters of Bahram Chobin
Dissatisfied Sasanian nobles

supported by:
Byzantine Empire

Khosrow II Victory Khosrow II faction's victory
Vistahm Rebellion

(590–596)

Sasanian Empire Parthians led by Vistahm Victory Revolt suppressed
Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628 Sasanian Empire

Avars (and Slavic allies)

Byzantine Empire

Western Turkic Khaganate

Defeat
War of the Camel's Udder

(604–611)

Sasanian Empire Pre-Islamic Arabia Defeat Sasanian rule briefly interrumpted until restored by Ruzbi, the frontier governor (marzban) of al-Hira.[40]
Second Perso-Turkic War
(614–616)
Sasanian Empire Western Turkic Khaganate
Hephthalite Empire
Victory Smbat IV Bagratuni successfully defend Sasanian Central Asia from the Turkic invasion.
Jewish revolt against Heraclius (614–617/625)
Jewish rebels
Sasanian Empire
Byzantine Empire Status quo ante bellum Jewish surrender and expulsion after a brief rule by Persians and Jews over parts of the Byzantine Diocese of the East.
Sasanian incursions into Nubia (620s)[41] Sasanian Empire
Kingdom of Makuria
Kingdom of Nobatia

Byzantine Empire

Inconclusive Persians are expelled by Byzantines, but Persian incursions destroy Christian Churches and debilitate Nobatians, causing its decline and further conquest by simultaneous Makurian invasion.
Third Perso-Turkic War
(627–629)
Sasanian Empire

Supported by:

Eastern Turkic Khaganate

Western Turkic Khaganate
Supported by:

Byzantine Empire

Defeat Byzantine control of Georgia
Sasanian civil war of 628–632 The Parsig faction

The Nimruzi faction

The Pahlav (Parthian) faction
Shahrbaraz's army
Stalemate
Muslim conquest of Persia
(633–654)
Sasanian Empire

Supported by:

Rashidun Caliphate

Kanarang

Defeat

(Regime change)

Sasanids attempts to recuperate the Persian throne (657–679) Tang China

Sassanids in exile

Rashidun Caliphate (until 661)

Umayyad Caliphate (from 661)

Western Turkic Khaganate

Defeat The Tang campaigns against the Western Turks (by Pei Xingjian) success and the Chinese established a "Persian military commandery" (波斯都督府) in the city of Zābol (疾陵城 Jilicheng) in Tokharistan, and Peroz was appointed as Military Commander (都督 Dudu). Then this government, with the capital at Zirang, fell in 673/674.

After that, Narsieh went west with his troops to liberate Iranshahr in 679 and fought against the Arabs in Takharistan for almost thirty years.

  • The failure and end of the persian restoration campaign attempt in Siege of Kamarja
  • Narsieh's uncle, Bahram, died in 710, and Bahram's son, Khosrow, was mentioned fighting alongside Sogdians and Turks against the Arabs at the siege of Kamarja in 729 in a futile attempt to restore Sasanian rule.[43]
Close

Medieval Islamic era

More information Conflict, Persianate State (and allies) ...
Conflict Persianate State (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Iranian Intermezzo (821–1090)
Arab–Khazar wars

(642–799)

Caliphates Khazar Khaganate Stalemate
Persian revolts against the Rashidun Caliphate

(650–661)

Persians Rashidun Caliphate Defeat Arab control over Persia is consolidated. Start of Islamization of Iran
Kharijite Rebellions against Ali

(657–661)

Rashidun Caliphate Kharijites Victory
Umayyad campaigns in Qiqan

(661–711)

Abbasid Caliphate Kingdom of Qiqan

Turk Shahis

Victory Islamisation of Balochistan
Muslim conquest of Transoxiana

(673–751)

Abbasid Caliphate

Tibetan Empire Karluk mercenaries

Principalities of Tokharistan

Sogdian principalities

Khwarazm

Fergana

Türgesh Kaghanate

Second Turkic Khaganate
Tang China

Victory
Second Fitna (Muslim civil war of 680–692) Zubayrid Caliphate
Alids
Kharijites
Umayyad Caliphate Defeat Kharijite faction, the Azariqa, captures Fars and Kirman from the Zubayrids. Ex-Zubayrid loyalists help Umayyad to secured Iraq, and consequently most of its dependencies in Persia. Then, Umayyad victory after Siege of Mecca.

Qatari ibn al-Fuja'a's revolt persist until his death in 698/699.

Umayyad campaigns in India

(712–740)

Umayyad Caliphate Gurjara-Pratihara

Guhila dynasty

Maitraka dynasty

Chalukya dynasty

Karkota Empire

Defeat
  • Arab, and later Turco-Persian Muslim invasions to India, stop for the next 250 years.
  • Islamisation of modern Pakistan.
Al-Harith ibn Surayj's Revolt

(734–746)

Murji'ah

Iranian converts (mawali) Khorasani Arabs Supported by:

Umayyad Caliphate

Supported by:

Defeat Revolt suppressed
Revolts of Zayd ibn Ali

(740)

Umayyad Caliphate Alids Victory Abbasid missionary movement begin to make headway in Khurasan.
Third Fitna

(744–750)

Abbasid Caliphate

Supported by:


Kharijites
Umayyad Caliphate

Supported by:

Victory
  • Abbasid appropriation of most former Umayyad territory
  • Eventual establishment of the Emirate of Córdoba
  • End of privileged status for Arabs
  • End of official discrimination against non-Arabs
Mount Lebanon revolts of 752 and 759

(752/759)

Abbasid Caliphate Eastern Christians

Supported:

Victory Christian inhabitants of parts of interior and coastal Lebanon expelled and replaced with Arab tribes
Sunpadh Rebellion

(755)

Sunpadh Movement

Supported by :

Daylamites

Dabuyids of Tabaristan

Abbasid Caliphate Defeat Zoroastrians and Persian Zindiqs/Heretics (worshipers of Abu Muslim) are repressed.
Abbasid Conquest of Tabaristan

(758-761)

Dabuyid dynasty

Masmughans of Damavand

Abbasid Caliphate Defeat Annexation of Tabaristan to the Abassid Caliphate.
Alid revolt of 762–763

(762–763)

Abbasid Caliphate Alids Victory Revolt suppressed with the help of Iranian troops.
Tabaristan uprising

(781–805)

Karenids

Bavandids

Baduspanids

Zarmihrids

Abbasid Caliphate

Supported:

Barmakids

Defeat Arabs conquered Tabaristan in 758-759.
Abbasid expeditions to East Africa

(804, 827/837)

1st phase

Abbasid Caliphate 2nd phase
Persians wālīs of Zanj

1st phase

Africans from Zanj

2nd phase
Abbasid Caliphate

Victory The Kharaj is imposed on the Africans.

Persian rebels against Mihna get a compromise.

Rafi ibn al-Layth's Revolt in Khurasan

(806–809)

Abbasid Caliphate Samarkand Iranians

Khorasani Arabs Turkic peoples

Victory Revolters defeat Ali ibn Isa ibn Mahan and Harun al-Rashid. Then surrenders to Harun's son in exchange of pardon
Zutt Rebellion

(810–835)

Abbasid Caliphate Zuṭṭ Victory Zutt colonization of Khuzestan after being expelled from Iraq.
Fourth Fitna (Abbasid civil war of 811–813/819) Al-Ma'mun (supported mostly by Persian forces) Al-Amin (supported mostly by Arab forces) Victory Defeat and death of al-Amin; al-Ma'mun is recognized as Caliph on 27 September 813. Tahir ibn Husayn rewarded as governor of Khorasan, which marked the beginning of the Tahirids.
Babak Khorramdin Revolt

(816–837)

Abbasid Caliphate Khurramite

Zoroastrians Supported:

Victory Capture and execution of Babak Khorramdin
Hamza ibn Azarak's Kharijites rebellion in Sistan

(823–828)

Tahirid dynasty

Abbasid Caliphate

Kharijites Inconclusive Hamza's death in 828 and the death of Talha shortly after put an end to this series of conflicts.
Kharijite revolt of Bilal al-Dibabi[44]

(829)

Abbasid Caliphate Kharijites Victory Revolt suppressed by Ujayf ibn Anbasa in northern Persia .
Mazyar uprising

(839)

Tahirid dynasty

Abbasid Caliphate

Spahbed Mazyar and

Khaydhar ibn Kawus al-Afshin's forces

Defeat Mazyar was arrested and sent to Baghdad. Tahirid control over Tabaristan was therefore secured.

Mazyar was Crucified next to babak in 840CE[45]

Wars between Alawites of Tabaristan and Taheri (864–867) Tahirid dynasty

Abbasid Caliphate

Alid dynasties of northern Iran Defeat Hasan, who assumed the regnal name al-Da‘ī ila’l-ḥaqq ("He who summons to the Truth"), was recognized as emir of Tabaristan.
Caspian expeditions of the Rus'

(864–1041)

Abbasid Caliphate

Khazars (from 965)

Alans

Byzantine Empire (941)

Sarir

Volga Bulgaria

 Kievan Rus'

Oghuz Turks

Khazars (until 943)

Stalemate
  • Occupation of several areas on the outskirts of the Volga and the Dnieper by the Russians. Start of Russian expansionism on the Caucasus.
  • The disintegration of the Khazar Empire
  • Sack of different areas by the Russians in Iranian territories near Caspian Sea
  • The local Muslims defeated the Russians in their attempts to conquest Persian territories.
Zanj Rebellion

(869–883)

Zanj slave rebels

Allied Arabs


Saffarids
Abbasid Caliphate Defeat Revolt suppressed
Hindu Shahi–Saffarid wars

(870–900)

Saffarids Hindu Shahis

Lawik dynasty

Inconclusive Saffarids withdraw from Medieval India due to the rise of Samanid Empire and Lawik dynasty.
Justanid-Abbasid clashes[46]

(876–879)

Justanids

Alids

Abbasid Caliphate Stalemate Justan III consolidates his throne.
Battle of al-Baida

(874/875)

Saffarids Kharijites Victory Ya'qub ibn al-Layth defeated the Kharijite leader Muhammad ibn Wasil
Battle of Dayr al-Aqul

(876)

Saffarids Abbasid Caliphate Defeat Abbasid rule in Iraq is defended.
Saffarid-Abassid War[47]

(884/85–892)

Saffarids Abbasid Caliphate

Dulafid dynasty

Stalemate Caliphal authority is seizured without depossing Saffarid dominance in the East.
Samanid Civil War of 888 Nasr I forces Ismail I forces Defeat Rise of Ismail I to the power.
Dulafid-Abbasid Conflict[48] Dulafid dynasty Abbasid Caliphate Defeat Dulafid are depossed and replaced by a Caliphal governor (Isa al-Nushari).
Samanid conquest of northern Iran

(900–901)

Samanid Empire

Supported by:

Abbasid Caliphate

Saffarids

Zaydids

Victory Samanids took over the province of Tabaristan, Ismail then appointed his cousin Abu'l-Abbas Abdullah as the governor of Tabaristan.
Sajid invasion of Georgia

(914)

Sajid dynasty Tao-Klarjeti

Kingdom of Kakheti
Kingdom of Abkhazia

Stalemate Despite military victories, sajid withdraw from Georgia
Sajid invasion of Armenia

(921)

Sajid dynasty Kingdom of Armenia Defeat Armenia success to maintain its independence.
Qarmatian invasion of Iraq (927–928) Abbasid Caliphate

Sajid dynasty

Qarmatians of Bahrayn

Baqliyya rebels

Stalemate End of Qarmatian expansionism

Collapse of the Abbasid Empire

Battle of Iskhabad

(940)

  • Part of the Samanid–Ziyarid Wars
Ziyarid dynasty

Firuzanids

Samanid Empire Defeat Samanid conquest of the territory
Battle of Baghdad (946) Buyids Hamdanids Victory Buyid Emirate is consolidated in Iraq.
Rebellion of Bardas Phokas the Younger

(987–989)

Rebels from Phokas clan

Support from:

Principality of Tao

Buyid Dynasty


Rebels from Bardas Skleros
  • Arab mercenaries until mid-987
Byzantine Empire

 Kievan Rus'

Defeat Revolt suppressed
Saffarid dynasty
(861–1003)
Yaqub's campaigns to the east (861–870) Saffarid dynasty Zunbils

Kharijites

Medieval India

Victory Ya'qub ibn al-Layth al-Saffar marched through Bost, Kandahar, Ghazni, Kabul, Bamyan, Balkh and Herat, conquering them in the name of Islam.
Saffarid-Abbasid War (873–876) Saffarid dynasty

Ayyars

Abbasid Caliphate Defeat
  • In 873, Ya'qub ibn al-Layth al-Saffar ousted the Tahirids from their own capital of Nishapur, and captured its ruler Muhammad ibn Tahir, which led to conflicts with the Abbasid caliphate.
  • The Abbasid caliph completely halted Ya`qub's advance and put an end to what was arguably a major threat to the Abbasid Caliphate.[49]
Battle of Mecca (883)
  • Part of Abbasid decline (861–940)
Saffarid dynasty

Abbasid Caliphate

Tulunids Victory The invaders are expelled from the holiest city of Mecca.
Battle of Balkh

(900)

Saffarid Amirate Samanid Empire Defeat The Saffarids lose much territory to the Samanids in Khorasan, and were left with the control of Fars, Kerman and Sistan, but they also lost these provinces after a civil war.
Saffarid Campaign in the Fars province

(900–904)

Saffarid Amirate Abbasid Caliphate Victory Temporarily regained Fars, but the Saffarids withdrew soon afterwards.
Military expedition against Makran

(907 or 908)

Saffarid Amirate Ma'danids Victory Saffarids able to compel the Ma'danid to give three years of tribute.
Civil war between Tahir and the pretender Al-Layth (909–912) Tahir ibn Muhammad ibn Amr Al-Layth Stalemate Sebük-eri, who had managed to win over Tahir's commanders, won an easy victory and captured the brothers. They were sent to the Caliph and imprisoned in Baghdad, though they were treated well for the remainder of their lives.
Buyid-Saffarid War (967–968) Saffarid dynasty Buyid dynasty Defeat Adud al-Dawla negotiated peace with the Saffarid ruler Khalaf ibn Ahmad, who agreed to recognize Buyid authority.
Close

First Turco-Persian era

More information Conflict, Persianate State (and allies) ...
Conflict Persianate State (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Ghaznavid dynasty
(962–1186)
Ghaznavid campaigns in East Persia (999–1004) Ghaznavid Empire Saffarid Empire

Samanid Empire

Victory North-Eastern Persia annexed by the Afghan-centered Ghaznavid Sultanate (although still under suzerainty to the Abbasid Caliphs), and fall of both Samanids and Saffarids.
March of Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni to India (1001–1027) Ghaznavid Empire Medieval India Victory The northern parts of India were annexed by Iran. Somnath temple was destroyed and its treasures looted.
Kara-Khanid invasion of Khorasan

(1006–1008)

Ghaznavid Empire Kara-Khanid Khanate Victory Ghaznavids expels the invaders.
Ghaznavid conquest of Khwarazm

(1017)

Ghaznavid Empire Ma'munids Victory Ghaznavids expands to Central Asia.
Ghaznavid campaigns in West Persia

(1026–1030)

Abbasid Caliphate Buyids

Sallarids

Ziyarids

Victory
Ghaznavid–Kakuyid war

(1029–1039)

  • Battle of Rey (1038)
Ghaznavid Empire

Annazids

Kakuyids

Buyids

Inconclusive Conflict suspended due to the death of Ala al-Dawla Muhammad and the Seljuk expansionism.
  • Ghaznavid brief conquest of Kakuyid domains into Northwestern Iran
  • Avicenna's library destroyed during the war
Battle of Dabusiyya

(1032)

Ghaznavid Empire Kara-Khanid Khanate Stalemate Indecisive.
Ghaznavid campaigns in India

(10th and 11th centuries)

Ghaznavid Empire Medieval India Victory
  • The northern parts of India were annexed by Iranian states.
  • Somnath temple was destroyed and its treasures looted.
  • Later Islamic empires would appear on the subcontinent.
Close
More information Seljuq Empire(1037–1194) ...
Seljuq Empire
(1037–1194)
Seljuk-Ghaznavid Wars Seljuk Empire Ghaznavid Empire Victory

(Regime change)

• Fall of the Ghaznavid Empire in Iran.

• Rise of the Seljuk Empire and Turco-Persian tradition.

Siege of Hamadan (1047) Seljuk Empire Kakuyids

Annazids

Buyids

Victory Hamedan and Isfahan are conquered by Seljuk empire.
Georgian–Seljuk wars

(1048–1213)

Seljuk Empire Kingdom of Georgia Defeat Initial victory on the Great Turkish Invasion. Then Georgia liberates from being tributary of Seljuk.
Byzantine–Seljuq wars
(1048–1308)
Seljuk Empire Byzantine Empire

Empire of Trebizond
Crusader states

Kingdom of Georgia

Victory Most of Anatolia conquered by the Seljuks, starting Turkification of modern Turkey.
Sieges of Baghdad (1055–1059) Seljuk Empire

Supported by: Abbasid Caliphate

Buyid dynasty

Supported by: Fatimid Caliphate

Victory
Overthrow of the Qarmatians

(1058–1077)

Seljuk Empire

Uyunid Emirate
Abbasid Caliphate

Qarmatians Victory End of Qarmatian rule in eastern Arabia
Seljuk war of succession

(1063)

Alp Arslan forces Qutalmish forces Victory Alp Arslan obtains the throne.
Battle of Manzikert
(1071)
Seljuk Empire Byzantine Empire Victory Seljuks enter Anatolia.
Seljuk Civil War Seljuk Empire Kerman Seljuk Sultanate Victory Malik Shah maintains the throne
Battle of Ain Salm

(1086)

Seljuk Empire Sultanate of Rûm Victory Death of Suleiman ibn Qutalmish
Nizari–Seljuk conflicts

(1090–1194)

(Nizari) Ismailis of Persia and Syria Stalemate Nizaris consolidate a state in Daylam, Quhistan, and Jabal Bahra', then controls other scattered areas in Alborz mountains, Zagros mountains, and Khurasan.
First Crusade

(1095–1099)

Defeat
Siege of Mosul (1096) Seljuk Empire Uqaylid dynasty Victory Seljuks conquers the territory of the Uqaylid State
Battle of Ghazni (1117) Seljuk Empire Ghaznavid Empire Victory Bahram of Ghazna succeeded to the throne as the Seljuk's vassal
First Siege of Baghdad (1136) Seljuk Empire Abbasid Caliphate Victory al-Rashid fled the city for Mosul, where he abdicated the caliphate. His uncle, al-Muqtafi, was raised to the throne instead by Mas'ud, who then retired to the east.
Battle of Qatwan

(1141)

Seljuk Empire

Kara-Khanids

Kakuyids

Qara Khitai (Western Liao)

Karluks

Defeat Khwarazm became a vassal state of the Kara-Khitan.
Second Crusade

(1147–1150)


Western front (Reconquista)
Wendish Crusade
Victory
Second Siege of Baghdad (1157) Seljuk Empire Abbasid Caliphate Defeat Caliph al-Muqtafi successfully defended his capital against the coalition armies of Seljuq Sultan Muhammad of Hamadan and Qutb ad-Din of Mosul.
Close
More information Ghurid dynasty(879–1215) ...
Ghurid dynasty
(879–1215)
Battle of Ghazni (1148) Ghurid dynasty Ghaznavids Victory The Ghurid ruler Sayf al-Din Suri defeated Bahram-Shah and took the city while Bahram-Shah fled to India.
Battle of Ghazni (1151) Ghurid dynasty Ghaznavids Victory The Ghurid ruler Ala al-Din Husayn defeated Bahram-Shah, captured the city, and destroyed it as revenge for the execution of his brother Quṭb ud-Dīn in 1149.
Indian campaigns of Muhammad of Ghor

(1175–1206)

Ghurid dynasty Rajput confederacy

Sena dynasty

Soomra dynasty

Ghaznavids

Qarmatians

Tibetan tribes

Victory
Ghurid-Qara Khitai conflicts[50]

(1198–1200s)

Ghurid dynasty Qara Khitai Defeat Qara Khitai raiders plundered successfully the northern part of the Ghurid state.
Ghurid conquest of Khorasan

(1200–1201)

Ghurid dynasty Khwarazmian dynasty Victory Ghurid expansion to the north as far as Gorgan and Bastam.
Battle of Andkhud

(1204)

Ghurid dynasty Khwarazmian dynasty

Qara Khitai

Kara-Khanid Khanate

Defeat Ghurids lost suzerainty of Khurasan to the Khwarezmian Empire, starting their decline.
Ghurid invasion of Tibet

(1206)

Ghurid dynasty Tibetan people (Era of Fragmentation) Defeat
Close
More information Khwarazmian dynasty(1077–1231) ...
Khwarazmian dynasty
(1077–1231)
Khwarazmian conquest of Persia (1156–1215)[51]
  • Battle of Rey (1194)
  • Siege of Herat (1202)
  • Siege of Gurgānj (1202)
  • Battle of Amu Darya (1204)
  • Battle of Hezarasp (1204)
  • Battle of Andkhud (1204)
Khwarazmian Empire

Supported by:

Seljuk Empire
Ghurid dynasty
Bavand dynasty
Kara-Khanid Khanate
Victory

(Regime change)

Irghiz River skirmish

(1209/1219)

Khwarazmian Empire Mongol Confederation Stalemate Inconclussive due to Mongol retreat in order to chase Merkits or Naimans dissidents instead of start a war with Persia.
Khwarazmian–Qara Khitai Wars[53]

(1210–1220)

Khwarazmian Empire

Kara-Khanid Khanate

Co-belligerent:

Qara Khitai

Supported by: Mongol clans

Inconclussive
Khwarazmian-Abbasid Conflicts

(1215–1217)

Khwarazmian Empire Abbasid Caliphate Inconclussive The Turco-Persian army was caught in a blizzard and returned home.
Mongol invasion of Persia (1218–1256) Khwarazmian dynasty

Nizari Ismaili state
Abbasid Caliphate

Co-belligerent:

Jin dynasty

Western Xia

Mongol Empire Defeat

(Regime change)

Georgian-Khwarazmid war (1225–1228) Khwarazmian dynasty  Kingdom of Georgia Victory Khwarezmian last domains added the Georgian domains
Seljuk-Khwarazmid war

(1230)

Khwarezm Shahs

Seljuk rebels

Empire of Trebizond

Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm

Ayyubid Sultanate

Defeat Khwarezmian last domains partitioned between Seljuks and Mongols
Siege of Jerusalem (1244) Ayyubid Sultanate

Khwarazmians

Kingdom of Jerusalem Victory Muslim capture of Jerusalen
Close

Mongolian era

More information Conflict, Persianate State (and allies) ...
Conflict Persianate State (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Ilkhanid dynasty

(1256–1335)

Mongol invasions of Anatolia (1241–1335) Mongol Empire

Principality of Khachen

Sultanate of Rum
Anatolian Beyliks
Victory Mongols adds the Anatolian domains to Persian-centered Ilkhanate.
Georgian Rebellion of 1256 Mongol Empire Georgia Victory Rebellion suppressed. Georgian vilayats are submitted to Persia-centered Ilkhanate.
Siege of Baghdad (1258) Mongol Empire

Principality of Antioch

Abbasid Caliphate Victory
Mongol-Ayyubid War (1259-1260) Mongol Empire

Zakarids

Proshyans

Zengids

Ayyubid Dynasty Victory Mongols adds Aleppo (modern Syria) to the Persian-centered Ilkhanate. Then clashes with the Mamluk Sultanate.
Mongol invasions of the Levant (1260–1323) Ilkhanate Ilkhanate of the Mongol Empire Egyptian Mamluk Sultanate

Ayyubid remnants

Nizari Ismailis of Syria

Golden Horde of the Mongol Empire (after 1264)

Karamanid rebels

Abbasids

Defeat Mongols fail to conquer Egypt or get a formal Franco-Mongol alliance.
Toluid Civil War

(1260–1264)

Kublai Khan and his allies Ariq Böke and his allies Victory Fragmentation of the Mongol Empire
Berke–Hulagu war

(1262)

Ilkhanate

Supported by:
 Byzantine Empire

Golden Horde

Supported by:
Egyptian Mamluk Sultanate

Inconclusive Fragmentation of the Mongol Empire
Kaidu–Kublai war

(1268–1301)

Yuan dynasty

Ilkhanate Ilkhanate (ally of Kublai)

Chagatai Khanate Chagatai Khanate

House of Ögedei

Golden Horde (ally of Kaidu until 1284)

Inconclusive Fragmentation of the Mongol Empire
Esen Buqa–Ayurbarwada war

(1314–1318)

Yuan China

Ilkhanate Ilkhanate

Chagatai Khanate Chagatai Khanate Victory Fragmentation of the Mongol Empire
Golden Horde-Ilkhanate War

(1318–20)

Ilkhanate Ilkhanate

Chagatai Khanate Chagatai Khanate

Golden Horde

Rebels:

Victory Fragmentation of the Mongol Empire
Chupanid Rebellion

(1322–1327)

Ilkhanate Ilkhanate

Supported by:

Chagatai Khanate Chagatai Khanate

Chobanids

Jalayirids

Victory Amir Chupan is executed by Abu Sa'id Bahadur Khan, who then gets to marry with Baghdad Khatun (daughter of Chupan).
Disintegration of the Ilkhanate

(1335–57)

Ilkhanate Various factions Ilkhanate Various factions Collapse of the dynasty

(Regime change)

Fragmentation ot the Ilkhanate
Jalayirid dynasty

(1335–1432)

Jalayirid conquest of Azerbaijan

(1356–60)

Chobanids[55] (until 1357)

Jalayirid Sultanate

Golden Horde (until 1358)
Muzaffarids
Victory
Muzaffarid Civil War

(1363–74)

Muzaffarids loyals to sha Mahmud

Supported by: Jalayirid Sultanate

Muzaffarids loyals to Shah Shoja Mozaffari Stalemate Jalayirid expands their domains in Iran, but Shah Shoja Mozaffari gets to rule the Muzaffarid state (from Isfahan to Balochistan).
Anti-Jalayirid revolts of 1364–1367[56] Jalayirid Sultanate Shirvanshah Kavus' rebels of Shirvan
Khwaja Murjan's rebels of Baghdad

Supported by:

Victory Both revolts are suppressed and the rulers again recognise the Vassalage to Jalayirids.
Jalayarid conquest of Eastern Iran[57][58]

(1371–74)

Jalayirid Sultanate Wali of Astarabad
Sarbadars
Victory Jalayirid's rule is consolidated over whole Iran.
Jalayarid wars of Succession[57]

(1374–1384)

Jalayirid Sultanate

Support against invaders:

Jalayarid pretenders:
Invaders:
Stalemate Shaikh Hussain Jalayir maintains his rule over whole Jalayirid domains, but starting the decadence of the Sultanate.

Then, Ahmad Jalayir depose his brother in 1382 and defeat the rest of his brothers.

Golden Horde raid to Iranian Azerbaiyan[61]

(1385)

Jalayirid Sultanate

Emirate of Hakkâri

Golden Horde

Co-Belligerents:

Defeat Jalayirid domains are devastated by the raids, being weakened to near collapse.
Close

Second Turco-Persian era

More information Conflict, Persianate State (and allies) ...
Conflict Persianate State (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Timurid dynasty
(1370–1507)
Campaigns of Timur
(1380–1405)
Timurid dynasty

Western Chagatai Khanate

White Horde


Grand Principality of Moscow

Crimean Khanate

Muzaffarids
Jalayirid Sultanate

Sarbadars
Tughlaq dynasty

Moghulistan (Eastern Chagatai)

Golden Horde

 Kingdom of Georgia

Ismailists
Delhi Sultanate

 Mamluks
Ottoman Empire Ottoman Empire


 Knights Hospitaller

Ming China

Victory
Battle of Mush (1387)
  • Part of Timurid Invasion of Azerbaijan
Timurid dynasty Qara Qoyunlu Defeat Qara Yusuf temporarily expels the Timurids.
Battle of Algami Canal

(1402)

  • Part of Timurid Invasion of Iraq
Timurid dynasty Qara Qoyunlu Victory Sultan Ahmed Jalayir and Qara Yusuf both escaped Iraq again and fled towards Egypt
Timurid Civil Wars
(1405–~1501)
Various factions Various factions Collapse of the dynasty

(Regime change)

Rise of the Shi'ite Safavid dynasty
Georgian invasion of Timurid Domains

(1405–1407)

  • Qara Qoyunlu raid of Georgia (1407)[63]
Timurid dynasty
Qara Qoyunlu
 Kingdom of Georgia Defeat George VII of Georgia succeeded in expanding Georgia's borders temporarily to their former extent (regaining Nakhchivan and Ganja).[64]
Battle of Nakhchivan (1406)
  • Part of Timurid Invasion of Azerbaijan
Timurid dynasty Qara Qoyunlu

Chakhirlu

Defeat Invasion repelled and Qara Qoyunly conquest of Whole Azerbaijan.
Battle of Jalalak Marpinchin

(1359)

Afrasiyab dynasty Mar'ashis Defeat Rise of Mir-i Buzurg and death of Kiya Afrasiyab.
Battle of Qarabagh

(1469)

Timurid dynasty Aq Qoyunlu Defeat Timurid loses the control of Azerbaiyan and any chance to reconquer Iran or Iraq.
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Qara Qoyunlu
(1374–1468)
Battle of Sardrud[65]

(1408)

Qara Qoyunlu

Jalayirid Sultanate

Timurid dynasty Victory
Qara Qoyunlu invasion of Northern Iran[66]

(1409)

Qara Qoyunlu Timurid dynasty Defeat Timurids expels invaders from Northern Iran.
Qara Qoyunlu conquest of Mardin[67]

(1409)

Qara Qoyunlu Timurid dynasty Victory Mardin is captured by the Qara Qoyunlu.
Qara Qoyunlu–Jalayirid War[66][65]

(1410–1411)

Qara Qoyunlu Jalayirid Sultanate Victory Ahmad Jalayir is executed and forced to crown Pirbudag, son of Qara Yusuf, as Shah of Iran (giving legitimacy to the Qara Qoyunlu).
Battle of Chalagan

(1412)

Qara Qoyunlu  Kingdom of Georgia

Princedom of Simsim[68][69]

Timurid dynasty

Victory
Qara Qoyunly–Aq Qoyunlu war[66][70]

(1417–1418)

Qara Qoyunlu Aq Qoyunlu

Supported by:

Victory Qara Osman fled to Aleppo.
Timurid-Qara Qoyunlu War

(1420-1434)

Qara Qoyunlu Timurid dynasty
Local rebel forces in Azerbaiyan and Kurdistan
Stalemate Iskandar is briefly depossed by Shah Rukh and Qara Qoyunlu loses territories, but avoid to be fully re-conquered by Timurids.
Qara Qoyunlu-Georgia War[71]

(1440–1444)

Qara Qoyunlu Kingdom of Georgia Stalemate Tbilisi is sacked, but Jahan Shah returns without territorial gains.
Qara Qoyunlu 2nd conquest of Baghdad[72]

(1445–1447)

Qara Qoyunlu

Supported by:

  • Sheikh Hasan rebel forces
Arab Iraq rebels

Supported by:

Victory Jahan Shah depose Alvand Mirza.
Timurid–Qara Qoyunlu War[73]

(1454–1459)

Qara Qoyunlu Timurids of Khorasan
Timurids of Samarkand
Victory
Qara Qoyunly-Aq Qoyunlu war (1457–1469)
  • Aq Qoyunlu conquest of Amid (1457)
  • Qara Qoyunlu invasion of Eastern Anatolia (1466)
  • Battle of Chapakchur (1467)
  • Aq Qoyunlu conquest of Shiraz[74] (1469)
Qara Qoyunlu Aq Qoyunlu Defeat

(Regime Change)

Death of Jahan Shah, Mirza Yusuf and Rise of Aq Qoyunlu.
Revolt of Azerbaijan[75]

(1459)

Qara Qoyunlu Hasan Ali rebel forces Victory Revolt Suppressed
Revolt of Fars and Shiraz[76]

(1464)

Qara Qoyunlu Pir Budaq rebel forces Victory Revolt Suppressed
Revolt of Baghdad[77][78]

(1466)

Qara Qoyunlu Pir Budaq rebel forces Victory Revolt Suppressed
Battle of Chapakchur

(1467)

Qara Qoyunlu Aq Qoyunlu Defeat Fall of Qara Qoyunlu and end of Qara Qoyunlu–Aq Qoyunlu Wars.
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Aq Qoyunlu
(1378–1508)
Turkoman invasions of Georgia

(1407–1502)

Kara Koyunlu (1407–1468)

Aq Qoyunlu (1468–1502)

Kingdom of Georgia

Shirvanshah
Safavid Empire (1502)

Victory End of invasions against Georgia and consolidation of Safavids in Persia
Campaign of Shirvan

(1459–1460)

Aq Qoyunlu

Safavid order

Shirvanshah Defeat Death of Shaykh Junayd.
Siege of Gerger

(1464–1465)

Aq Qoyunlu

Pazuki Kurds

Mamluk Sultanate Mamluk Sultanate Victory Harpoot conquered by Aq Qoyunlu.
Battle of Qarabagh

(1469)

Aq Qoyunlu Timurids Victory Decline of Timurids.
Aq Qoyunlu–Mamluk War (1470–1474) Aq Qoyunlu

Dulkadirids

  • Pahlevanlu tribe
Mamluk Sultanate Mamluk Sultanate Defeat Decline of Aq Qoyunlu.
Aq Qoyunlu–Ottoman War (1473) Aq Qoyunlu

Supported by:

Ottoman Empire Ottoman Empire

Supported by:

Anatolian beyliks

Defeat Rise of the Ottoman Empire in West Asia.
Battle of Khoy (1478) Sultan Khalil's forces Sultan Yaqub's forces Defeat Sultan Yaqub overthrow Sultan Khalil as Padishah
Revolts against Yaqub[79]

(1478–80)

Aq Qoyunlu Bayandur princes

Safavid order

Victory Revolts suppressed
Battle of Urfa (1480) Aq Qoyunlu Mamluk Sultanate Mamluk Sultanate

Pechenegs

Victory Mamluk invasion is repelled.
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Safavid Iran

More information Conflict, Iran (and allies) ...
Conflict Iran (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Safavid dynasty
(1501–1736)
Campaigns of Ismail I

(1500–1510)

Safavid Dynasty Victory

(Regime change)

Safavid Iran is established.
Persian-Uzbek Wars
(1502–1598)
Safavid Empire Uzbeks

Supported by: Kazakh Khanate

Victory
Ottoman–Persian wars (1505–1517) Safavid Iran

Supported by:

Ottoman Empire Ottoman Empire

Supported by:

Defeat
  • Eastern Anatolia and Northern Iraq ceded to the Ottomans.
  • End of Shia uprisings in the Ottoman Empire
Kurdish-Yazidi uprising against the Safavids
(1506–1510)
Safavid Empire Yazidis Victory Uprising suppressed when the Yazidi leader, Shir Sarim, was defeated in the battle
Portuguese–Safavid wars (1507–1625) Safavid Empire

Imamate of Oman
Supported by:

British East India Company

Portugal Portuguese Empire

Supported by:

Spain Spanish Empire (since 1580)

Victory The Iranian military sought to punish the Portuguese in the Persian Gulf for the Iranians' grievances of Gambron, not only liberating the island of Hormuz but also forcing the Portuguese to withdraw to Mombasa in Kenya.

Britain recognized Iran's sovereignty over the entire Persian Gulf.

Battle of Ghazdewan

(1512)

Safavid Empire

Mughal Empire

Khanate of Bukhara Defeat Uzbeks reconquerst of Transoxiana
Ismail I invasion of Georgia

(1516–1522)

Safavid Empire

Samtskhe-Saatabago rebels

Kingdom of Georgia Stalemate Initial Persian victories, putting vassal governors in Georgia. Then withdrawal after Ottoman intervention
Battle of Jam (1528) Safavid Empire Uzbeks Victory Safavids Empire defeated Uzbeks and reconquered Herat.
Ottoman–Safavid War of 1523
(1532–1555),
Safavid Empire

Supported by:

Ottoman Empire

Supported by:

France
Defeat Ottomans captured Lower Mesopotamia and Baghdad. First partition of the Caucasus between the Ottomans and Persians. Western Armenia and western Georgia falls in Ottoman hands, Eastern Armenia, eastern Georgia, Dagestan and the contemporary Republic of Azerbaijan remain in Persian hands.

A Habsburg–Persian alliance is consolidated in reaction to the Franco-Ottoman alliance.

Georgian-Safavid wars

(1541–1659)

Safavid Empire Kingdom of Kartli

Kingdom of Kakheti

Stalemate Persians subdue Georgian kingdoms as vassals of Safavids, but Georgians got restoration of its autonomy
Humayun campaign in Kandahar[85]

(1545–1555)

Mughal Empire (loyal to Humayun)

Supported by:

Stalemate
  • Humayun rebeled against Persian garrison and took Kandahar for himself, then ceded it to Safavids in 1554 and later retook it again.
  • Humayun established his own empire and retook his rights as Mughal King after the Battle of Sirhind (1555).
Persian expedition to Kandahar[86][87]

(1558)

Safavid Empire Mughal Empire Victory
Uzbek invasion of Khorasan (1578) Safavid Empire Shaybanids Victory Uzbeks withdrew from northeastern Iran and Persians refused to pay them tribute.
Ottoman–Safavid War of 1578
(1578–1590)
Safavid Empire Ottoman Empire Defeat Treaty of Constantinople (1590)
Siege of Firuzjah castle (1579) Safavid Empire Mar'ashis Victory Death of Mirza Khan and annexation of their domains to Safavid direct rule.
Khorasan Civil War

(1580)

Safavid Government Safavid opposition Defeat Rise of Abbas the Great.
Siege of Nishapur

(1581)

Safavid Government Safavid opposition Defeat Ali-Qoli Khan Shamlu (mentor of Abbas Mirza) deposes Morteza Qoli Khan Parnak Turkman and is confirmed as local ruler of Khorasan by Mohammad Khodabanda.
Siege of Torbat

(1582)

Safavid Government Safavid opposition Defeat Expansion of Ali-Qoli Khan Shamlu and Abbas Mirza domains.
Rind-Lashari War

(1582–1612)

Safavid Government
Mughal Empire
Rind tribe
Lashari tribe
Defeat Rind tribe unify Balochistan after defeating Lashari and become de facto independent from Mughals and Safavids.
Battle of Tirpol

(1583)

Safavid Government Safavid opposition Stalemate Reconciliation between the two parties.
Qizilbash Civil War

(1585)

Safavid Empire

Supported by:Khanate of Bukhara

Ustajlu rebels Defeat Ali-Qoli Khan Shamlu retires to Herat and Abbas Mirza is captured by Morteza Qoli Khan Parnak Turkman (who became local ruler of Mashhad)
Uzbek–Iranian War of 1588–89 Safavid Empire Khanate of Bukhara Defeat Persian loss of Herat and death of Ali-Qoli Khan Shamlu.
Mughal expedition to Kandahar[88][89]

(1595)

Safavid Empire Mughal Empire

Supported by:

Defeat
Battle of Herat

(1598)

Safavid Empire Shaybanids Victory Khorasan returned to Persians
Ottoman–Safavid War of 1603 (First Stage)
(1603–1612)
Safavid Empire Ottoman Empire Victory Treaty of Nasuh Pasha (1612)

Persian embassy to Europe (1609–1615)

Siege of Dimdim
(1609–1610)
Safavid Empire Emirate of Bradost Victory Uprising suppressed
Ottoman–Safavid War of 1603 (Second Stage)

(1612–1618)

Safavid Empire Ottoman Empire Victory Treaty of Serav (1618)
Capture of Ormuz

(1622)

Safavid Empire

British East India Company

Spain Iberian Union Victory Ormuz annexed to Persia
Mughal–Safavid War of 1622
(1622–1623)
Safavid Empire Mughal Empire Victory Kandahar falls to Persia
Ottoman–Safavid War of 1623
(1623–1639)
Safavid Empire Ottoman Empire Defeat Permanent partition of the Caucasus; western Georgia and Western Armenia go to the Ottomans, while Eastern Armenia, Dagestan, eastern and southern Georgia, and Azerbaijan remain under Persian rule. Ottomans decisively gain control of Mesopotamia.
Battle off Hormuz

(1625)

Kingdom of England English East India Company

 Dutch East India Company

Supported by:

Safavid Persia

Portugal Portuguese Empire Draw End of Portuguese influence on the Persian Gulf
Uzbek invasion of 1626 Safavid Empire Khanate of Bukhara Victory Uzbek withdrawal.
Gharib Shah's Revolt

(1629–1630)

Safavid Empire

aided by Qizilbash

Mazandaran and Gilan province

aided by Uzbeks

Victory Caspian Iran becomes a Khasah (Royal domain) and the local Sultanates are abolished to strengthen the Absolute monarchy.
Khan Ahmad Khan Ardalan revolt

(1630)

Safavid Empire Emirate of Ardalan

Supported by: Ottoman Empire

Victory Kurdish Revolt suppressed
Sher Khan revolt

(1631)

Safavid Empire Pashtuns of Pushang

Supported by: Mughal Empire

Victory Afghan Revolt suppressed
Dervish Reza's rebellion in Qazvin

(1632)

Safavid Empire Dervish

Supported by:

Victory Ban of Esoteric interpretation of the Quran.
Davud Khan's rebellion in Karabakh

(1632)

Safavid Empire Caucasus States

Supported by: Ottoman Empire

Victory Revolt suppressed
Tahmurts of Kakheti revolts in Georgia

(1632–1648)

Safavid Empire Georgians loyals to Teimuraz I of Kakheti Victory Revolts suppressed
Capture of Julfar

(1633)

  • part of the Omani–Portuguese conflicts
Safavid Empire

Portugal Portuguese Empire

Muscat and Oman Omani Empire Defeat Omanis captured the two forts on Ras Al Khaimah.
Uzbek invasion of 1634 Safavid Empire Khanate of Bukhara

Supported by:

Ottoman Empire

Victory Uzbek withdrawal and Abd al-Aziz Khan of Bukhara's properties are sacked by Persians.
Qandahar Cession

(1638)

Safavid Empire
  • Afghan loyalists

Supported by:

  • Anti-Mughal rebels
Ali Mardan Khan rebels

Supported by:

Defeat Mughal Shah Jahan annex Qandahar
Mughal–Safavid war of 1649
(1649–1653)
Safavid Empire

Khanate of Bukhara

Mughal Empire

Jaipur State

Victory Persia recaptured Kandahar
Russo-Persian War of 1651
(1651–1653)
Safavid Empire  Russia Victory Russian fortress on the Iranian side of the Terek River destroyed, and its garrison expelled
Bakhtrioni uprising

(1659)

Safavid Empire

Turcoman tribes

Kingdom of Kakheti aided by Tushetians, Pshavs, Khevsurs Inconclusive Kakheti remained under Persian rule
Safavid occupation of Basra

(1697–1701)

Safavid Empire Ottoman Empire

Eastern Arabs

Defeat Safavids retreats from the Persian Gulf.
Balochi raids

(1699–1710s)

Safavid Empire Baloch people

Pashtun tribes

Inconclusive
Afghan Rebellions against Safavid Persia

(1709–1717)

Safavid Iran

Supported by:

Hotak dynasty

Sadozai Sultanate of Herat

Supported by:

Defeat Afghan independence from Iran.
Hotaki-Safavid War

(1716–1722)

Safavid Empire Hotaki dynasty

Supported by:

Defeat

(Regime change)

Afghan control of most of Iran

Rise of Nader Shah against Mahmud Hotak and then Ashraf Hotak.

1717 Omani invasion of Bahrain

(1717)

Safavid Empire Muscat and Oman Omani Empire Defeat Persian loss of Bahrain
Sack of Shamakhi

(1721)

Safavid Empire Rebellious Sunni Lezgins Defeat The Shia population is massacred and the city, ransacked
Russo-Persian War of 1722
(1722–1723)
Safavid Empire
Hotaki dynasty
 Russian Empire
Cossack Hetmanate
Kingdom of Kartli
Melikdoms of Karabakh and Armenian rebels

Co-belligerent:

Defeat Treaty of Saint Petersburg (1723): Russians capture Derbent, Baku, and the provinces of Shirvan, Gilan, Mazandaran, and Astrabad for about a decade.

Treaty of Constantinople (1724): Partition of Iran with the Ottomans, who receives Tiflis, Erevan, Ganja, Khoy, Quschi, Tasuj, Marand and Tabriz. Start of Ottoman-Hotaki War (1722-1727).

Hotaki dynasty's interruption (1722–1729)
Ottoman–Hotaki War (1722–1727) Hotaki dynasty Ottoman Empire Victory Treaty of Hamedan
Return of Safavids (Nader)
(1726–1729)
Hotaki dynasty

Sadozai Sultanate of Herat

Supported by:

Ottoman Empire

Safavid Dynasty Defeat

(Regime change)

End of the Hotaki dynasty
Safavid Restoration (1729–1736)
Rebellion of Sheikh Ahmad Madani

(1730)

Safavid Empire

Nader's personal domains

Supported by:

English East India Company

Dutch East India Company (VOC)

Forces Loyal to Sheikh Ahmad Madani

Forces Loyal to Sheikh Jabbara

Forces Loyal to Sheikh Rashid bin Sa'id of Basaidu

Rebelling Arab tribes

Hotak remnants and Afghan raiders

Victory Revolt suppressed and reincorporation of Gulf Arabs to the empire
Battle of Zarghan
(1730)
Safavid Empire Hotaki dynasty

local Arab tribes

Victory Afghans expelled from Iran (Persia)
Herat campaign of 1731

(1731)

Safavid Empire

Afghan loyalists

Sadozai Sultanate of Herat

Hotaki dynasty

Victory Fall of Sadozai Sultanate of Herat
Ottoman-Safavid war of 1730 (Nader) (1730–1735) Safavid Empire

Erivan Khanate

Ottoman Empire

Autonomous Republic of Crimea Crimean Khanate

Lezgins

Victory Persian (Nader) reconquest of the entire Caucasus

Treaty of Constantinople and Treaty of Ganja

Mohammad Khan Baluch's Rebellion

(1733–1734)

Safavid Empire Forces loyal to Mohammad Khan Baloch Victory Southern Persia is re-annexed.
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Afsharid Iran

More information Conflict, Iran (and allies) ...
Conflict Iran (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Afsharid dynasty
(1736–1796)
Siege of Kandahar (1737–1738) Afsharid dynasty Hotaki dynasty Victory End of the Hotaki dynasty
Afsharid conquest of the Persian Gulf & Oman (1738–1747) Afsharid dynasty Omani Empire

Pirates

Victory The Persian empire becomes the arbiter of the Persian Gulf until the collapse of the empire.
Nadir Shah's invasion of India
(1738–1739)
Afsharid dynasty Mughal Empire

Hyderabad Oudh

Victory Persian plundering of India
Nader's Central Asian Campaign (1738–1740) Afsharid dynasty Khanate of Bukhara

Khanate of Khiva

Victory Conquest of the Central Asian khanates
Nader's Dagestan campaign

(1741–1745)

Afsharid dynasty Lezgins

Avar Khanate (Avars)

Mekhtuly Khanate

Gazikumukh Khanate

Elisu Sultanate

Shaki Khanate

Victory The Persian Empire annexes almost all of Dagestan.
Ottoman–Persian War (1743–46)
(1743–1746)
Afsharid dynasty  Ottoman Empire Stalemate Treaty of Kerden, Status quo ante bellum
Moḥammad Taqi Khan Shirazi's Rebellion

(1744)

Afsharid dynasty Persian rebels Victory Revolt suppressed
Division of the Afsharid Empire

(1747–1796)

Afsharid dynasty

Supported by:


Qara Bayat Amirdom

Khozeimeh Amirdom

Safavid dynasty

Supported by:

Zand dynasty

Supported by:


Qajar dynasty

Supported by:


Other war-lords and factions
Durrani Empire

Supported by:


Georgians

Supported by:

Regime change
Durrani Campaign to Khorasan (1749–51) Afsharids

Qara Bayat Amirdom

Durrani Empire Inconclusive Durrani retreat
Durrani Campaign to Khorasan (1754–55) Afsharids

Qara Bayat Amirdom

Qajar dynasty

Durrani Empire

Khanate of Kalat

Defeat Afghan dominance in the region
Durrani campaign in Khorasan (1769–1770) Afsharids Durrani Empire

Khanate of Kalat

Defeat Shahrokh submit again to Afghan suzerainty.
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Zand Iran

More information Conflict, Iran (and allies) ...
Conflict Iran (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Zand dynasty
(1751–1779)
Campaign against Azad Khan
(1754–1762)
Zand dynasty Azad Khan Afghan Victory Azad Khan's surrender
Bajalan uprising
(1755)
Zand dynasty Bajalan Tribe (Kurds)[91] Bajalan Tribe[92] Victory Uprising uppressed
Battle of Astarabad (1759) Zand dynasty Qajar Dynasty Victory Zand captures Astarabad.
Zand-Dutch War

(1765)

Zand dynasty Netherlands Dutch colonial empire Victory Kharg Island reconquered by Persia and destruction of Fort Mosselstein
Ottoman-Persian War of 1775
(1775–1776)
Zand dynasty Ottoman Empire Victory Persia captures Basra.
Bani Utbah invasion of Bahrain

(1782–1783)

Persia Sheikhdom of Kuwait

Zubarah

Defeat Al Khalifa annexes Bahrain into its sheikhdom.
Siege of Kerman
(1794)
Zand dynasty Qajar Dynasty Defeat

(Regime change)

Qajars conquer and sack Kerman.
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Qajar Iran

More information Conflict, Iran (and allies) ...
Conflict Iran (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Qajar dynasty
(1785–1925)
Khorasan campaign of Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar Qajar Iran Turkmen rebels
Afsharid Iran
Victory Fall of Afsharid Iran
Battle of Krtsanisi
(1795)
Qajar Iran Kartli-Kakheti
Imereti
Victory Tbilisi captured and sacked by Iranians. Persian reconquest of the Caucasus and Georgia. Then, for reunificating all Persian provinces, Agha Mohammad is formally crowned Shah in 1796 in the Mughan plain.[93]
Persian Expedition
(1796)
Qajar Iran  Russian Empire Inconclusive
  • Tactical Russian victory
  • Strategic Persian victory
  • Russian withdrawal after the death of Catherine II
Wahhabi raids on Najaf

(1801–1811)

Emirate of Diriyah Victory The Anti-Shi'ism raids of the House of Saud ended in failure at the Iran–Iraq border.
Russo-Persian War (1804–1813) Qajar Iran  Russian Empire Defeat Treaty of Gulistan. Iran irrevocably cedes most of its Caucasus territories (Dagestan, Georgia, and most of the Azerbaijan Republic) to Russia.

Start of Russian conquest of the Caucasus

Qajar-Wahabbi War

(1812-1814)

Qajar Iran

Omani Empire


 Ottoman Empire
First Saudi state

Bani Bu Ali tribe

Victory Muscat and Bahrain fell under the control of Iranian and Omani forces, securing their influence at the Persian Gulf.
Battle of Kafir Qala

(1818)

Qajar Iran Durrani Empire Inconclusive Both armies retreated
Ottoman–Persian War of 1821
(1821–1823)
Qajar Iran  Ottoman Empire Victory Treaty of Erzurum, status quo ante bellum
Herati Civil War (1823–1829)
Herat
Principality of Kandahar
Qajar Iran

Rival factions
Aimaq tribesmen
Uzbek tribesmen
Hazara tribesmen
Rebels
Herati Army defectors
Victory Kamran Mirza Durrani remained as Ruler
Russo-Persian War of 1826
(1826–1828)
Qajar Iran  Russian Empire Defeat Treaty of Turkmenchay. Iran irrevocably cedes its last Caucasus territories comprising parts of the contemporary nation of Azerbaijan that were not ceded in 1813, as well as all of what is the current Armenia.
Siege of Herat (1833) Qajar Iran Herat Inconclusive Iranian withdrawal: Herat remains a vassal of Qajar Iran
Rawanduz Revolt
(1829–1835)
Qajar Iran Soran Emirate Defeat Qajar lose control of Iranian Kurdistan, which is the current Mukriyan region.

First Herat War (1837–1838)
Qajar Iran

Supported by:

 Russian Empire

Principality of Qandahar

Emirate of Herat

East India Company

Supported by:

 British Empire

Aimaq tribesmen

Maimana Khanate

Andkhui Khanate

Sheberghan Khanate

Sar-i Pul Khanate

Bukhara Emirate

Khiva Khanate[94]

Defeat Successful Persian siege at Herat; breach eventually repelled; temporary British occupation of Kharg Island; Persian withdrawal from Herat
First British occupation of Bushehr

(1838)

Qajar Iran  British Empire Victory British expelled
Revolt of Hasan Khan Salar

(1846–1850)

Qajar Iran
Emirate of Herat
Forces Loyal to Hasan Khan Salar

Turkmen tribesmen

Shadlu Kurdish tribesmen

Victory Khorasan is reincorporated.
Battle of Fort Tabarsi

(1848–1849)

Qajar Iran Bábís Victory Successful repression
Second Herat War

(1856)

Qajar Iran Emirate of Herat

Supported by:

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Afghanistan

Victory Successful siege of Herat; continued occupation until Persia's compliance with the Treaty of Paris; installment of Sultan Ahmad Khan as puppet ruler of Herat
Anglo-Persian War
(1856–1857)
Qajar Iran United Kingdom United Kingdom

Afghanistan

Defeat Persian force occupies and later withdraws from Herat.

Treaty of Paris (1857) is signed

Herat campaign of 1862–1863 Emirate of Herat

Herati Farsiwans

Supported by:

Qajar Iran

Emirate of Afghanistan

Jamshidi tribesmen

Supported by:

 British Empire

 East India Company

Defeat Herat incorporated into the Emirate of Afghanistan
Uprising of Sheikh Ubeydullah

(1879–1880)

 Ottoman Empire

Qajar Iran

Supported by:

 Austria-Hungary

Kurdish tribes Victory Successful repression
Tobacco Protest

(1890–1891)

Qajar Iran

Limited support:

 British Empire

Iranian Protesters:

Limited support:

 Russian Empire

Defeat Tobacco Régie is abolished.
Ottoman incursion into Persia[95]

(1905)

Sublime State of Persia  Ottoman Empire Inconclusive Increase of territorial conflicts between both empires.
Persian Constitutional Revolution (1905–1911) Qajar Iran

Supported by:

 Russian Empire

Iranian constitutionalists

Supported by:

 Ottoman Empire
Armenian Revolutionary Federation in Iran
Revolutionaries victory
Ottoman invasion of Persia

(1906)

Sublime State of Persia  Ottoman EmpireKurdish tribes Defeat Ottomans (with Kurdish allies) successfully invade Iranian Azerbaijan and Luristan, occupying Behik, Serdasht, Bani, Khanajin, Urmia, Gangachin, Mahabad, Khoy.
Revolt of Salar-al-Daulah

(1911–1913)

Qajar Iran Forces of Salar-al-Daulah Victory Rebellion suppressed
Swedish intervention in Persia

(1911–1916)

Qajar Iran

Sweden Sweden[96]

Anti-Qajar insurgents Victory
  • Anti-Qajar rebellions are suppressed.
  • The Swedish government quits in 1916 due to its neutrality on World War I. However, Swedes volunteers continued to serve in the Persian Gendarmerie until 1921.
Revolt of Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar[97]

(1911)

Sublime State of Persia Forces of Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar

Supported by:

 Russian Empire

Victory The Shah is expelled against from the country.
Persian Campaign
(1914–1918)
Qajar Iran
Jungle Movement
Entente Allies

 Russian Empire

 British Empire

Assyrian volunteers


Central Powers

 Ottoman Empire

 German Empire

Stalemate
Jungle Movement insurrection on Gilan (1915–1921) Qajar Iran
 Russian Empire (1915–1917)

 British Empire

Jungle revolutionaries

Supported by:
Soviet Russia (since 1920)

Victory
Yarahmadzai uprising

(1916–1934)

Qajar and Pahlavi Iran

Supported by: British Empire

Yarahmadzai tribe

Supported by: German Empire (until 1918)

Victory Balochistan is pacified and partitioned between Iran and British India.
Simko Shikak revolt (1918–1922) Qajar and Pahlavi Iran

Assyrian levies[98] Assyrian volunteers[99]

Irregular Kurdish militias

Supported by:

 Ottoman Empire

Victory Revolt suppressed
Azerbaijani separatism in Iran

(1918–present)

Qajar and Pahlavi Iran

Iran Islamic Republic of Iran

Azerbaijani separatists

Southern Azerbaijan National Awakening Movement

Azerbaijan National Resistance Organization

Azerbaijan Cultural Society

Azerbaijan Diplomatic Mission

Southern Azerbaijan Diplomatic Commission

South Azerbaijan Independence Party

South Azerbaijan National Liberation Movement

Azerbaijan People's Government (1946)

Republic of Mahabad Republic of Kurdistan[100](1946)

Supported by:

Soviet Union Soviet Union[101](until 1946)

Azerbaijan (alleged by Iran)[citation needed]

Turkey (alleged, sometimes)[citation needed]

Nationalist Movement Party (alleged, sometimes) [citation needed]

Israel (alleged by Iran)[citation needed]

Ongoing Ongoing
Mohammad Khiabani's uprising (1920) Qajar Iran Mohammad Khiabani's forces

Azerbaijan rebels

Victory Revolt suppressed
Pessian's Khorasan Revolt (1921)[102] Qajar Iran Autonomous Government of Khorasan Victory Revolt suppressed after the death of Mohammad Taqi Pessian
1921 Persian coup d'état (1921) Qajar Iran
Jangalis

Simko Kurdish rebels Colonel Pesian's forces

Supported by:  Soviet Union

Persian Cossack Brigade
Supported by:

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Defeat

(Regime change)

Luri tribal insurgency in Pahlavi Iran

(1921–1930)

Qajar and Pahlavi Iran Luristan tribes
Kurdish tribes
Victory Luristan brought under direct Iranian state control
Sheikh Khazal rebellion (1922–1924) Qajar and Pahlavi Iran Sheikhdom of Mohammerah

Bakhtiari tribesmen

Arab separatists

Supported by:

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Victory
Turkoman Rebellion in Eastern Iran (1924–1926)[103]

(1924–1926)

Iran Sublime State of Persia

loyalist Kurdish tribes

Supported by:

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Turkmen rebels

rebel Kurdish tribes

  • Shadillu Kurds

Supported by:

 Soviet Union[104]

Victory Rebellion suppressed and Soviet plans to stablish a Turkic protectorate are avoided.
Close

Pahlavi Iran

More information Conflict, Iran (and allies) ...
Conflict Iran (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Pahlavi dynasty
(1925–1979)
Simko Shikak revolt (1926) Iran

Assyrian volunteers
Assyrian levies

Irregular Kurdish militias Victory Revolt suppressed; Simko Shikak fled to Mandatory Iraq
Persian conquest of West Baluchistan[105][106][107][108]

(1928–1935)

Iran West Baluchistan Victory Iranian authority on West Bauchistan is reinforced-
Persian tribal uprisings of 1929

(1929–1933)

Iran Rebel tribes Victory Iranian government offered amnesties and most rebel leaders surrendered then. The rest gets a peace agreement.
Jafar Sultan revolt (1931) Iran Jafar Sultan's Kurdish rebels Victory Revolt suppressed
Goharshad Mosque rebellion

(1935)

Iran Bazaaris

Shia clergy

Victory Iranian government impose the Kashf-e hijab and other anticlerical reforms against the Shias to Westernize Iran. Further de-Islamization and continuation of claims by the clergy about heretical innovations in the government.
Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran
(1941)
Iran
 Nazi Germany (Abwehr)
 Soviet Union
United Kingdom United Kingdom

 Australia

Defeat Abdication of Rezā Shāh, Allied occupation of Iran and expulsion of German intelligence in Iran.
Hama Rashid revolt (1941–1944) Iran Kurdish tribesmen Victory Hama Rashid driven into Iraq
Operation François

(1943)

Iran

Supported by:
 Soviet Union
United Kingdom United Kingdom

 Nazi Germany (Abwehr)

Qashqai people

Victory The Germans fail to instigate a nomadic rebellion in the Persian Corridor.
Khuzestan revolt[109]

(1943)

Iran Khuzistan rebels

Supported by: Arab nationalist

Victory Revolt suppressed.
Iran Crisis of 1946
(1945–1946)
Iran Mahabad
Azerbaijan
Supported by:
 Soviet Union
Victory Dissolution of Mahabad and Azerbaijan
Abadan Crisis

(1951–1954)

Iranian State (Majlis)

Supported by:

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Supported by:  United States Iranian opposition:

Stalemate
First Iraqi–Kurdish War

(1961–1970)

KDP

Yazidis Assyrians

Supported by:

Iran Iran[110]

 Israel[111]

 United States (alleged)[112]

Before 1968:

Republic of Iraq

Syria Syria (1963)[113]


After 1968:

Ba'athist Iraq

Stalemate
1963 demonstrations in Iran Victory Shia revolt is suppressed.

Ruhollah Khomeini is released but exiled.

1967 Kurdish revolt in Iran (1967) Iran Revolutionary Committee leadership: Victory Kurdish revolt suppressed:
Insurgency in Balochistan (1948–present)  Pakistan

 Iran[120]
Baloch separatist factions

Sectarian factions

Supported by:

 India (to Baloch Nationalists only)
 Afghanistan (alleged, denied)

Ongoing Ongoing
Seizure of Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs

(1971)

Iran Emirate of Sharjah

Emirate of Ras al-Khaimah

Victory
Dhofar Rebellion
(1963–1979)[127]
Iran (since 1973)
 Oman United Kingdom

 Jordan

PFLOAG
PFLO

 South Yemen

Victory Defeat of insurgents, modernization of Oman
Second Iraqi–Kurdish War

(1974–1975)

KDP

Yazidis

Iran

Supported by:

 Israel[128]

 United States[129]

Iraq

Supported by:  Soviet Union[128]

Defeat
  • Peshmerga fighting ability destroyed
  • Iran withdrew its support for KDP
Arvand Conflict
(1974–1975)
Iran Iraq Victory
Panjshir Valley uprising

(1975)

 Afghan government Defeat End of the 1975 uprisings in Afghanistan
Close

Islamic Republic of Iran (since 1979)

More information Conflict, Iran (and allies) ...
Conflict Iran (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Iranian Revolution
(1978–1979)




Revolutionaries' victory

Revolutionaries' victory

Aftermath of the Iranian Revolution
(1979–1983[137])

Political:

Armed groups:

Others:

Political:

Armed groups:


Separatists:


 Iraq

Islamic Republican Party victory[137]

Islamic Republican Party victory[137]

1979 Iranian ethnic unrest Interim Government

Iran Islamic Republic of Iran

Azerbaijani rebels
Kurdish rebels
Ahwazi rebels
Turkmen rebels
Qashqai rebels
Supported by:
Iraq Iraq
Victory Suppression of all revolts
1979 Turkmen rebellion in Iran

(1979)

 Iran Iranian Turkmen rebels Victory Uprising crushed.
1979 Kurdish rebellion in Iran
(1979–1996)

Interim Government


Iran Islamic Republic of Iran
(1980−83)

KDP-I
Komala
IPFG
OIPFG (Minority)[138][139]
Sipay Rizgari

Supported by:

Victory
  • Iranian forces mostly diverted to the Iran–Iraq War front since late 1980
  • Pockets of KDPI resistance remained until 1996[139]
1979 Khuzestan insurgency
(1979)

Interim Government
Islamic Republic of Iran (From 6 November)

DRFLA
APCO
PFLA
AFLA

Supported by:

Iraq Iraq[141]

Victory

Iranian victory

Iran–Iraq War
(1980–1988)
 Iran

KDP
PUK
ISCI
Islamic Dawa Party
 Hezbollah[142]

Shia volunteers from:

 Iraq

DRFLA[149][150]
MEK
NCRI
PDKI[151]
Salvation Force[152]

Arab volunteers from:

Inconclusive[c] Status quo ante bellum[d]
1982 Lebanon War
(1982)
Supported by: Inconclusive PLO withdrawal from Lebanon

Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon

1982 Amol uprising
(1982)
 Iran Union of Iranian Communists Victory UIC leadership is dismantled.
KDPI–Komala conflict
(1984−1991)
 Iran KDP-I
Komala
Victory Both armed forces debilitate and Iran maintain control of Iranian Kurdistan.
KDPI insurgency (1989–1996)  Iran KDP-I Victory KDPI announces unilateral cease-fire in 1996.
Arab civil unrest and insurgency on Khuzestan

(1999−2020)

 Iran

Supported by:

Victory Revolts suppressed
War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) (until 2002)

 United States
 United Kingdom
Northern Alliance
 Canada
 Italy
 Germany
 Australia
 New Zealand
 Iran (until 2002)

 Taliban Al-Qaeda Foreign fighters Inconclusive
  • Fall of the Taliban government in Afghanistan.
  • Iran quits the coalition and forms the Axis of Resistance after the Axis of evil speech, ending its collaboration with the US coalition.
Third Pakistani-Balochistan Conflict
(2004–present)[169]
 Pakistan
 Iran[120]
Baloch separatist factions

Sectarian factions
Ongoing[170][171]
Sistan and Baluchestan insurgency
(2004–present)
 Iran
Ongoing Ongoing insurgency
Iran–PJAK Conflict
(2004–present)
 Iran
 Turkey
PJAK Ongoing PJAK withdraws from Iranian territory
2006 Lebanon War

(2006)

 Hezbollah

Amal Movement[citation needed]

Lebanese Communist Party[172]

Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command[173]

Syrian Social Nationalist Party in Lebanon

Supported by:

 Iran[174]
Ba'athist Syria

 Israel Inconclusive Israel occupies Ghajar until present
Afghanistan–Iran border skirmishes

(2007–2023)

 Iran Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
 Afghanistan
Stalemate Status quo ante bellum
Syrian Civil War
(2013–2024)
 Iran
Ba'athist Syria (2011–2024)
 Hezbollah
 Russia
Free Syrian Army

Supported By:

Islamic Front

Supported By:


al-Nusra Front
Islamic State
 Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria
 Israel
Defeat
War in Iraq
(2013–2017)
 Iraq
Peshmerga
 Iran
Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq
Badr Organization
 Hezbollah
Kata'ib Hezbollah
Kata'ib al-Imam Ali

 United States

Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant
Naqshbandi Army[citation needed]
Victory Iraqi government and allied victory against ISIL

Iran played a significant role in this victory. End of ISIL territorial control in Iraq; ongoing ISIL insurgency

Yemeni civil war (2014–present)
Supported by:
Saudi Arabia Saudi-led coalition

Southern Transitional Council (2017–2026)[209]

 United Arab Emirates[210][211][212]



Ongoing Ceasefire since 2 April 2022 with some periodic clashes. Iranian support for the Houthis is consolidated.
War on ISIS (2014–ongoing) Islamic State Islamic State
al-Nusra Front

Khorasan

Ongoing Successful repression against ISIS guerrilla warfare. Russia–Syria–Iran–Iraq coalition is formed.
Iran–Pakistan border skirmishes (2014–2024)  Iran
Claimed by Pakistan:

Baloch nationalists:

 Pakistan
Claimed by Iran:

Jihadists:

Jaish ul-Adl

Inconclusive Ceasefire. Pakistan and Iran develops joint operations against Baloch separatism.
Western Iran clashes (2016–present)  Iran PDKI

PJAK

Komala

PAK

Khebat

Ongoing Restart of armed resistance against the Islamic Republic of Iran. However, eastern Kurdistan has not yet become a Kurdish state.
Islamic State insurgency in Iraq

(2017–present)

 Iraq

Rojava (cross-border cooperation since May 2018)[222]

Supported by:

CJTF-OIR (until 2021)


 Iran[223]

 Russia[citation needed]


 Kurdistan Region

Supported by:

 Netherlands[224]

Islamic State

White Flags

Ongoing
2019–2021 Persian Gulf crisis

(2019–2021)

 Iran

Supported by:

 United States

Supported by:

Inconclusive
Gaza war

(2023–present)

 Hamas

Supported by:

Axis of Resistance:

 Israel

Supported by:

Only intelligence support:

Ongoing
Spillover of the Gaza war in Syria

(2023–present)

Ba'athist Syria Assadists (former Ba'athist Syria)[i]

Islamic Resistance Front in Syria

Supported by:[j]
 Iran (until 2024)
Popular Mobilization Forces
 Hezbollah

Palestine Palestinian militias


Syria (former opposition)[k]

Supported by:

 Turkey

Ukraine Ukraine[240] (denied by Ukraine)[241]

 Israel
Druze allies
Ongoing
Red Sea crisis

(2023–present)

 Israel


Independent Patrols:
Ongoing 2025 United States–Houthi ceasefire. Attacks resumed after 2026 Israeli–United States strikes on Iran
Syrian conflict (2024–present) Syria Syria[n]
Counter protesters[255]
Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah[citation needed]
Ongoing Current stalemate.
Twelve-Day War

(2025)

 Iran
 Houthi movement[256][257]

Supported by:

 Israel
 United States[261] Supported by:

Only defensive support:

Ceasefire
2025–2026 Iranian protests Iran Government of Iran
Pro-government counterprotesters[citation needed] and plainclothesmen
Political groups:
Separatist groups:
Labour, civil, and retiree groups:
  • Free Workers Union of Iran[284]
  • Iranian Writers Association[284]
  • Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers Trade Associations[284]
  • Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Workers Syndicate[284]
  • Coordination Committee to Help Form Independent Labour Organisations[284]
  • Khuzestan Retired Workers[284]
  • Union of Retirees Group[284]
  • Kurdish Women's Organisations[284]
  • Retirees Union[285]
  • Kermanshah Electricity and Metal Association[285]
  • "Stop Executions"[285]
  • "Justice Seekers"[285]
  • Coordination Council for Protests of Contract Oil Workers[285]
  • Coordination Council for Protests of Non-Formal Oil Workers[285]
  • Coordination Council of Nurses Protests[285]
  • "Neday-e Zanan-e Iran"[285]
  • World Iranian Christian Alliance[286]

Supported by:
Ongoing
2026 Iran war  Iran

Supported by:

Axis of Resistance:

 Russia (intelligence only)[290]

 Israel
 United States
Kurdistan Region CPFIK[291]

Supported by:
 Iranian opposition[292]


In defense only:

 NATO:[295]

 Azerbaijan[305]
 Bahrain[306]
 Cyprus[307]
 Jordan[308]
 Kuwait[309]
 Saudi Arabia[310]
 Qatar[311]
 Ukraine[312]
 United Arab Emirates[313]

Ongoing
Close

Minor conflicts, proxy wars, military incidents and alleged interventions

More information Conflict, Iran (and allies) ...
Conflict Iran (and allies) Opponents Results Notes
Palestinian insurgency in South Lebanon

(1968–1982)

Palestine Liberation Organization

 Syria

Lebanese National Movement

Lebanese National Resistance Front

Supported by:

 Israel

South Lebanon Army

Lebanese Forces

Defeat
Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict

(11 February 1979–present)

Ongoing

Ongoing

Assadist–Saddamist conflict

(22 July 1979–2024)

Assadists


Saddamists


Supported by:

Inconclusive

Inconclusive

Qatif conflict
(1979–2023)
Iran-backed Shia militants (1980s–1990s)[378]

Saudi Shia civilians

Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabian Government Stalemate Conflict ended[380]
Soviet–Afghan War

(1979–1989)

Afghan Mujahideen
Sunni Mujahideen

Supported by:  Pakistan


Shia Mujahideen and Hazaras

Supported by:

 Iran[381][382][383]


Maoist Mujahideen

Supported by:

 People's Republic of China

 Soviet Union

 Afghanistan

Al Zulfiqar

Victory
Sectarian violence in Pakistan

(1947−Present)

Shia Groups:

Supported by:

 Iran (since 1979)[390]


Terrorist & extremist groups:


Baloch separatist groups:
  • LeB (inactive)
  • BLUF (2009-2010)
  • BSO (Azad) (inactive)
  • BNA (2022–23)
    • BRA (2006–22)
    • UBA (2013–22)
  • Other Baloch Separatist groups

Islamic State-Aligned groups:

Muhajir nationalist groups: (until 2025)
Pro-Sindhudesh Sindhi nationalist groups
Ongoing
Iranian Embassy siege

(1980)

Iran Iran

 United Kingdom

Democratic Revolutionary Front for the Liberation of Arabistan (DRFLA) Victory Embassy recaptured after six-day siege
Tanker War (1981−1988)  Iran

Supported by:

 Pakistan[409][410]

Iraq

Supported by:

 United States
 Saudi Arabia
 Kuwait

Inconclusive

UNSCR 598

Multinational Force in Lebanon

(1982–1984)

Islamic Jihad Organization

Iran Iran

 Ba'athist Syria

Progressive Socialist Party

Amal Movement

 United States
 France
 Italy
 United Kingdom

Stalemate Syrian Allied victory[411]
Second Sudanese Civil War

(1983–2005)

Sudan Sudan

SSDF

SPLA dissidents

Nuer White Army

Uganda Ugandan insurgents:

 Zaire (1994–1997)[417][418]

al-Qaeda (1991–1996)[419][420][irrelevant citation]

 Iraq[o]

 China[p]


Combat aid:

 Libya (1986–1991)[424][425]  DR Congo (1998–2003)


Non-combat aid:

 Iran[426]  Belarus (from 1996)[427][428]

SPLA

SSLM

NDA

Sudanese Alliance Forces[430]

Anyanya II

Eastern Coalition

Derg (until 1987)[431]

PDR Ethiopia (1987–1991)[431]

Ethiopia FDR Ethiopia (1995–1998)[420]

 Eritrea (1996–1998, 2002–2005)[432]

 Uganda (from 1993)[433][434]

Non-combat aid:

 Libya (1983–1985)[435][436]

 Israel[437]

 Cuba (until 1991)[438]

Stalemate Comprehensive Peace Agreement
1983–1986 Kurdish rebellions in Iraq KDP

Supported by:

 Iran


PUK
Kurdish mujahideen
Iraq Iraq Stalemate
  • Long term Kurdish tactical failure
Iran–Israel proxy conflicts (1985[439]−present)

 Iran

Support:

 Israel

Proxies:
Support:

Ongoing

Ongoing

War of Brothers

(1988–1990)

 Hezbollah

Supported by:

 Iran

Amal Movement

Supported by:

Syria Syria

Inconclussive Reconciliation between the two parties.
Afghan Civil War (1989–1992)
Foreign Fighters:
Various factions also fought among each other  Pakistan
 Saudi Arabia
 Turkey
 United States
 United Kingdom
 China
 Germany
 Iran
Government of Afghanistan Supported by:India India Victory
1991 Iraqi uprisings Shia and leftist elements of opposition:

Kurdish rebels:
Peshmerga:


Diplomatic support:
 United States[467]

Military support:
 Iran[468]

 Ba'athist Iraq


Support:
MEK

Iraqi government military victory

Bosnian War

(1992–1995)

 Bosnia and Herzegovina

Military Support:
 Iran (alleged)


 Herzeg-Bosnia

 Croatia

 Republika Srpska

 Serbian Krajina

 SFR Yugoslavia (until 1992)


Western Bosnia

Stalemate Breakup of Yugoslavia
Algerian Civil War

(1992–2002)

Islamic Salvation Front loyalists

 Morocco [472][473][474]

Libya Libya (until 1995)[472]

 Saudi Arabia (pre-war)[475]

Saudi private donors[475]

Armed Islamic Group (from 1993)

Minor involvement:

 Sudan (alleged)[476][477][478]

 Iran (alleged)[475][476][477][478]

Egyptian Islamic Jihad (until 1995)[479]


Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (from 1998)

Minor involvement:

Al-Qaeda[476]

 Government of Algeria

Minor involvement:

 Egypt[480][472]

 Tunisia[480][472]

 France[472][475]

 European Union[475]

 South Africa[481]

Defeat Algerian Government victory over the islamists.
Afghan Civil War (1992–1996) Hezb-i Wahdat (Dec. 1992–1995)

Supported by:
 Iran (Dec. 1992–1995)[482]


Junbish-i Milli (Jan.–Aug. 1994)

Supported by:
 Uzbekistan (Jan.–Aug. 1994)


 Islamic State of Afghanistan
List
Afghanistan INRMA

Afghanistan ANFL (Jeebh-e Nejat-e Melli)

Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin (from late 1994)

Supported by:

 Saudi Arabia

 Uzbekistan (until Jan. 1994; from Aug. 1994)

 Iran (until Dec. 1992: from 1995)[482]

Afghan Army and Airforce Remnants (allegedly, until October 1992)
Regional Kandahar Militia Leaders
Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin (until late 1994)[483]

Supported by:

 Pakistan (until late 1994)


 Taliban (from late 1994)

 Al-Qaeda (from early 1996)

Supported by:

 Pakistan (from late 1994)

Stalemate Inconclussive
Tajikistani Civil War

(1992–1997)

Defeat

Armistice

Iraqi Kurdish Civil War

(1994–1997)

PUK

PKK[492]

SCIRI

KCP

Iraqi National Congress

Supported by:

 Iran (from 1995)

Ba'athist Syria Syria

 United States (1996)

KDP

PDKI

Supported by:

Iraq Iraq (from 1995)

 Turkey (from 1997)

 Iran (before 1995)

Stalemate Washington Agreement
Afghan Civil War (1996–2001)  Islamic State of Afghanistan (Northern Alliance)

Supported by:

 Russia[493][494]

 Iran[493][494]

 Uzbekistan[493][494]

 India[495]

 Tajikistan

Supported by:

 Pakistan[496][494][497][498][499]

Stalemate
1999 Shia uprising in Iraq Rebels:

Supported by:

 Government of Iraq Defeat Saddamist victory.
War in Darfur
(20032020)
 Sudan

Chadian rebel groups[502]

Anti-Gaddafi forces (2011)[503]

Supported by:

 Libya (2011–2020)[504]

 China[505]

 Iran (until 2016)[506]

 Russia[507]

 Belarus[508]

Syria (2000s, alleged)[509]

SRF[q]

(2006–2020)

  • JEM (2003–2020)
  • SLA (some factions) (2003–2020)
  • LJM (2010–11)[r]

SLA (some factions)

SARC (2014–2020)

SLFA (2017–2020)[511]

  • SLA-Unity
  • SLMJ
  • JEM (Jali)

Supported by:

 South Sudan[512]

 Chad (2005–2010)[513]

 Eritrea (until 2008)[514]

Libya (until 2011)[515]

 Uganda (until 2015)[516]


United Nations UNAMID (2007–2020)
Stalemate
Iraqi insurgency

(2003-2011)

 United States
 United Kingdom
MNF–I
(2003–09)

New Iraqi government

Sons of Iraq
Badr Organization

Supported by:
Iran Iran[517][518]

 NATO

 Israel[519][520][521]
 United Nations



Inconclusive

Inconclusive

Houthi insurgency

(2004–2014)

Houthi Movement
 Yemen (pro-Saleh forces)

Alleged support by:
 Iran[528][529]
 North Korea[530][531][532]
 Libya (until 2011)[533]

 Yemen

 Saudi Arabia

Supported by:
 Jordan[535]
 Morocco[536]


al-Qaeda

Houthi victory

Houthi victory

2004 Iranian seizure of Royal Navy personnel

(2004)

Iran Navy of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution
Iran Iranian Border Guard Command

United Kingdom British Royal Navy

Victory Victory
  • British naval personnel arrested
  • 3 patrol boats seized
2005 Ahvaz unrest (2005)

Iranian Government

Iranian Arabs

Victory Unrest quelled
Fatah–Hamas conflict (2006–present)
Ongoing Fatah–Hamas reconciliation process
U.S. raid on the Iranian Liaison Office in Erbil

(2007)

 Iran

 Iraqi Kurdistan

 United States Defeat
  • Iranian diplomats captured by the US
  • Iranian retaliatory raids against the US
2007 Iranian arrest of Royal Navy personnel

(2007)

Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
Border Guard Command

Royal Navy

Victory
  • Two British boats seized
  • 15 Royal Navy personnel captured
Iranian Anti-piracy measures in Somalia[547][548]

(2008–present)

Somali pirates Ongoing
Somali Civil War (2009–present)

Hizbul Islam (until 2010; 2012–2013)

Alleged state allies:

Alleged non-state allies:

Houthis[553][554]

Somali pirates[555]


Allies:

IS-YP[558]

Somali pirates[555]

AUSSOM (2025–present)[559]
Supported by:

 France[568]

 Italy[569]

 Russia[570][571]

 UAE[572]

 United Kingdom[573]

Non-combat support:


United Nations UNPOS (1995–2013) United Nations UNTMIS (2025–present)
United Nations UNSOA (2009–2016)
United Nations UNSOS (2016–present)
Council for Somalia's Future

Alleged support:

 Ethiopia[577]

 United Arab Emirates[578]

Ongoing
Insurgency in Bahrain (2011–present)

Bahraini opposition

Supported by:
 Iran

 Bahrain

Supported by:
 Saudi Arabia
 United Arab Emirates

Ongoing

Ongoing

Iran–Turkey proxy conflict

(2011–present)

 Iran

Support

 Turkey

Ongoing

Ongoing

2011 attack on the British Embassy in Iran  United Kingdom

 Iran

Anti-Western civilian protesters Stalemate Defense of the Embassy is reinforced and Iranian government condemns the attacks.
2011–2012 Strait of Hormuz dispute

(2011–2012)

 Iran

 United States
 United Kingdom
 France
 Australia

Stalemate
  • Iran threatens to close the Strait of Hormuz
  • Multi-national flotilla established in Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea off coast of Iran
  • EU sanctions enforced, banning the export of oil from Iran to the EU countries and freezing Iranian assets
Mali War
(2012–present)
2012–2013
 Mali

2013–2022/23
2023–present
Support:

Native militia (2014–present):

2015–23
2012

2012–15

2023–24

2024–present
FLA

Supported by:
 Ukraine[599]


2012–present
  • CMI (2017–present)
  • MAA (until 2013)
  • Other armed groups and self-defense militias

2012–2017

2017–present
2015–2019
2019–present
Ongoing
Libyan civil war (2014–2020) Libya House of Representatives (Tobruk-based)[600][601] Wagner Group

(from 2018)

[611][612][613][614][615]

Egypt Egypt[616][617][618]

United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates[616][619][620][621]

RSF[622] (from 2019)

 Ba'athist Syria

(2020)[623][624][625]

 Hezbollah (allegedly)[626][627]

 Israel

(allegedly, denied by LNA)[628][629][630][631][632]

 Iran[633]
Libya Government of National Accord (Tripoli-based) (from 2015)  Turkey (2020)[661][662][663]

Syrian opposition Syrian National Army (from 2019)[664]

Yemen Popular Resistance Committees[665][666]

 Hamas (LNA claim, denied by Hamas)[667]
Libya National Salvation Government

(2014–2017)[682][683]

Support:

Islamic State

(from 2014)[692]

Support:

Al-Qaeda Shura Council of
Benghazi Revolutionaries

(2014–2017)[698][699]
Stalemate Ceasefire
2016 U.S.–Iran naval incident

(2016)

 Iran

 United States

Inconclusive

Sailors released unharmed 15 hours later after negotiations

2017 Iraqi–Kurdish conflict

(2017)

 Iraq

Supported by:
 Iran[708]

Kurdistan Region Kurdistan Regional Government
PKK[709]
PDKI[710]
PAK[711]
White Flags (alleged)[712]

Iraqi victory

Iraqi victory

  • Iraqi government forces defeat the Peshmerga and capture 20% of the territory controlled by the Kurdistan Region including the city of Kirkuk, along with the surrounding oil fields and border crossings.[713]
Eastern Syria insurgency

(2017–present)


Supported by:
Syria Ba'athist Syria Surrendered
 Iran (alleged,[citation needed] until 6 December 2024[714]) Surrendered



Anti-SDF Arab tribes[718]

Supported by:
 Turkey[720]


Hurras al-Din (al-Qaeda loyalists, until 2025)[721]

Ongoing Inconclusive
2018 attack on the Iranian Embassy in London

 Iran
 United Kingdom

The Mahdi Servants Union Victory Attackers were arrested
2018 German raids against Iranian espionage[725]  Iran  Germany Defeat Alleged Iranian Quds Force members, suspected of spying on Israeli and Jewish targets, are dismantled.
Actions in support of Azerbaijan in Iran (2020)  Iran

Supported by:

 Armenia

Iranian opposition

Supported by:

 Azerbaijan

 Turkey

Victory Iranian government represses the protests and maintains its neutrality in the conflict.
Palestinian Authority–West Bank militias conflict

(2022 – present)

Ongoing Escalation in clashes during the Gaza war
2022 Iran–Greece naval incident  Iran

Supported by:

 Russia

 Greece

Supported by:

 European Union

 United States

Inconclusive The Greek seizure was lifted.
Russo-Ukrainian war (2022–present)  Russia

Supported by:

 Belarus[u]
 North Korea
 Iran (alleged, denied by Iran)[561]

 Ukraine

Supported by:

Military aid to Ukraine

Ongoing Territorial control during the Russo-Ukrainian war. Iran denied any involvement in the war.[176]
Sudanese civil war (2023–present) Darfur Joint Protection Force (from November 2023)

 Egypt

Supported by:

Tamazuj (from August 2023)

Libyan National Army[749][750] Desert Wolves[751]

Supported by:


SLM (al-Nur)[759]
SPLM-N (al-Hilu) (June 2023 – February 2025)
Ongoing Iran–Sudan relations are restored and Iranian-Houthi Sphere of influence is expanded in the Red Sea.[760]
2026 Kurdish–Iranian crisis Kurdistan Region Coalition of Political Forces of Iranian Kurdistan (CPFIK)

Supported by:

Ongoing
Close

See also

Notes

  1. Regency Council was practically dissolved on 22 January 1979, when its head resigned to meet Ruhollah Khomeini.
  2. Imperial Iranian Army revoked their allegiance to the throne and declared neutrality on 11 February 1979.
  3. Iraq claimed victory following a successful 1988 counter-offensive aimed at expelling Iranian forces from Iraq which compelled Iran to submit to a ceasefire the same year, and also due to the country becoming the dominant power in the Middle East as a result of the conflict. Iran also claimed victory for expelling Iraqi forces from Iran following 1982 offensives, despite failing in its later-goal to overthrow the Iraqi government and also despite suffering higher military and economic losses than Iraq.[161][162]
  4. After the war concluded, Iraq continued to maintain control over the entire Shatt al-Arab and other Iranian territories it had occupied along the border, covering an area of 9,600 km2. It was not until 16 August 1990 that Iraq agreed to return these occupied territories to Iran and to divide sovereignty over the Shatt al-Arab. This restored the border to the terms established by the 1975 Algiers Agreement.
  5. Formed by a faction of the Southern Movement, it was established on 11 May 2017, and has called for the secession of a proposed federal "State of South Arabia" from the rest of the nation along the borders of South Yemen, with the name being inspired from the British-created Federation of South Arabia.
  6. logistic support and assistance with the naval blockade of Houthi-held territories in October 2016[187][188][189]
  7. training, intelligence, logistical support, weapons, and blockade up to 2017[191][192][193][194]
  8. From May 2024.[229][230][231] Popular Forces have been described as a Salafi Jihadist organization with alleged ties to the Islamic State. Several senior leaders in the Popular Forces also allied with the Islamic State in the Sinai.[232]
  9. The Syrian Arab Republic under Assad was supported by Iran, Hezbollah and Iraqi militias until his fall on 8 December 2024
  10. Until 8 December 2024
  11. The Syrian caretaker government was established two days after Assad was overthrown on 10 December
  12. Political legitimacy of all Houthi-led government bodies has been rejected by the United Nations, rival Yemeni factions, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the United States.
  13. Multiple sources indicate that the Iranian government has deployed military personnel to Houthi-controlled Yemen who are actively involved in attacks on commercial shipping.[242][243]
  14. Caretaker government until 29 March; Transitional government from 29 March
  15. Iraqi support for Sudan during the war mostly consisted of weapons shipments;[421] according to the South Sudanese, however, at least one unit of Iraqi paratroopers fought alongside the SAF near Juba. About 200 Iraqi soldiers were allegedly killed, and the site of their remains became known as "Jebel Iraqi".[422] The International Institute for Strategic Studies also stated that Iraqi forces fought alongside Sudanese government troops.[423]
  16. Although China was not officially involved in the war, it sent troops to the country in order to protect oil fields and thereby aid the Sudanese military. China also provided Sudan with weaponry.[423]
  17. Known as the National Redemption Front prior to 2011.
  18. MINUSMA, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, replaced and absorbed the troops from the AFISMA. It included troops from Chad, Bangladesh, Senegal, Togo, Egypt, Burkina Faso, Niger, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Germany, China, Benin, among others
  19. The Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic were Russian puppet states that declared their independence from Ukraine in May 2014. In 2022, they received international recognition from each other, Russia, Syria and North Korea, and some other partially recognised states. On 30 September 2022, Russia declared that it had formally annexed both entities. They continue to exist as republics of Russia.[citation needed]
  20. In 2022, Belarus allowed Russia to use its territory to launch the invasion[733][734][735] and to launch missiles into Ukraine.[736] See: Belarusian involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine

References

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