Soviets Name Greater Khorasan as Turkestan

April, 11, 1921 A.D.:
Soviets Name Greater Khorasan as Turkestan

By: Mir M.Hosseini

After the coup of Reza Khan, the Bolsheviks abruptly drew a virtual border around the territory previously seized from Iran and called it Turkestan. This decision was made due to fear from growing nationalist sentiments towards Iran. Years later, the territory was divided again and Persian cities of Bukhara and Samarkand became part of Uzbekistan instead of Tajikistan. The city of Marv became part of Turkmenistan. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, those republics announced their independence with same border lines that are still cause of some disputes. In 19th century, the Russian empire had gained great influence in the Qajar court and in a secret agreement with Britain, Iran was divided. The Jeyhoon river thus became the borderline among two major powers of the time.

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KEY TERMS:Bolshevik , Britain , Bukhara , Greater Khorasan , Iran , Jeyhoon , Khan , Khorasan , Marv , Persia , Persian , Qajar , Reza Khan , Russia , Russian , Samarkand , Soviet , Soviet Union , Tajikistan , Tur , Turk , Turkestan , Turkmenistan , Uzbek , Uzbekistan

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