List of wars involving Iran

Marhasi Gutian people Pashime

Narum-Sin campaign on Elam

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.

(Circa 2200 BC)

Marhasi co-belligerant: Sumer rebels Gutian people

First Shar-Kali-Sharri campaign on Elam

Ceasefire

Accadian control of Khuzestan is reinforced, installing imperial governors to counter the power from native kings like Khita.^[5]

(Circa 2100 BC)

Defeat

Status quo ante bellum

Kutik-Inshushinak campaign against Gutians^[6]

(Circa 2100 BC)

Elam

Gutian people

Victory

Elamyte-Accadians expand territories on the Zagros Mountains.

Elamyte independence war against Akkadians^[7]^[8]

(Circa 2090 BC)

co-belligerant: Uruk

Gutian people

Victory

Acadian empire, after the death of Shar-Kali-Sharri, lost control of Elam.
Elamyte king, Puzur-Inshushinak, conquered Anshan, manage to unite most of Elam into one kingdom, and also expands into parts of central Mesopotamia.
End of Gutian rule in Mesopotamia

Sumerian invasion of Elam^[8]^[9]

(Circa 2090 BC)

Assyrian conquest of Elam

Lagash

Neo-Sumerian Empire

Ur

co-belligerant

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-belligerant Elam

Neo-Sumerian Empire

Ur

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

Ur

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

Sumer
Akkad

Amorites

Defeat

Ishbi-Erra expel the Elamytes from Ur, then gain the title of King of Sumer and expands over Sumer and Akkad.

Revolts against Assyrian domain^[15]^[16]

(722-702 BC)

part of Assyrian conquest of Aram and Urartu–Assyria War

Babylonia

Aram (Ancient Syrian cities)

Philistia

Ancient Levant cities

Rebel Syro-Hittite states

Rebel Mannaea

Medes

Rebel Ellipi

Supported by:

Neo-Assyrian Empire

Samerina
Vassalized Mannaea
Vassalized Syro-Hittite states

Cimmerians

Kingdom of Judah

Stalemate

The Syrian rebel, Yahu-Bihdi, is flayed alive by Assyrians.
Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) is fully conquered by Assyrians, starting the Assyrian captivity and the Ten Lost Tribes.
The filistean rebel, Hanunu, is deposed and enslaved in Assur.
Mitatti's uprising in Mannaea (an Iranian state) against King Iranzu (Assyrian vassal) was suppressed
Iranzu's son, Aza, rise to the throne of Mannea, against his pro-Urartu brother, Ullusunu (then he's forced to be pro-Assyrians).
Rusa I of Urartu is defeated and deposed by the Assyrians (but his kingdom maintained independent).
Kurtî of Atunna is crowned by the Assyrians as a Buffer state against Urartu.
Pisiri of Carchemish is deposed and its kingdom annexed.
Assyrians conquers and established provinces on the Iranian Media.
Assyrian re-stablish control on Ellipi to counter Elamyte sphere of influence.
The Chaldean rebel, Marduk-apla-iddina II, is exiled to Iranian Elam after being defeated and deposed by Sargon II, who reestablish Assyrian control.

(655–639 BC)

Battle of Susa
part of Campaigns of Esarhaddon

Neo-Assyrian Empire

Defeat

Assyrian conquers the Elamyte Domains.

Median Empire
(678–549 BC)

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 invasion Assyria
(626–609 BC)

Battle of Nineveh (612 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

End of the Neo-Assyrian Empire
Founding of Neo-Babylonian Empire

Scythian invasion of Media (624–597 BC)

Median Kingdom

Scythians

Victory

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.

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)

Siege of Sardis (547 BC)

Lydian Empire

Victory

Lydia annexed by Iran

Cyrus' first eastern campaign (545–540 BC)

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)

Neo-Babylonian Empire

Victory

Neo-Babylonian Empire annexed by Iran

Cyrus' second eastern Campaign (533 BC)

Gedrosia

Victory

Cyrus the Great crossed the Hindu Kush mountains and collected tribute from the Indus vassalage cities.

Conquest of Egypt
(525 BC)

Kingdom of Egypt

Victory

Egypt annexed by Iran

Persian incursions into Nubia^[17]

(526 BC)

Conquest of India (Indus Valley)

Kingdom of Kush

Defeat

Cambyses II fails to expand Achaemenid domains into the south to reach the limits of former Egyptian Empire.^[18] Nubians maintains its independence and Persians establish frontier on Elephantine.

(518 BC)

Mahajanapadas

Victory

Achaemenid military occupation of northwestern regions of India for about two centuries

European Scythian campaign
(513 BC)

Scythians in European Scythia

Victory

Achaemenid domination of the European Black Sea regions

Greek Revolt

(499 BC–493 BC)

Greco-Persian War (First)

Greeks

Victory

Persia re-establishes control over Greek regions in Asia Minor and Cyprus

(492–490 BC)

Greco-Persian War (Second)

Greeks

Undecided

Persia conquers Macedonia and the Cycladic Islands, re-subjugates Thrace,but fails in an attempt to subjugate Athens and Sparta

(480–479 BC)

Greeks

Defeat

Macedonia, Thrace and Ionia regain independence from Persia

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)

Sparta
Peloponnesian League

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

Victory

(Peace of Antalcidas

dictated by Iran)

Ionia ceded back to Achaemenid Iran; Boeotian league dissolved; Union of Argos and Corinth dissolved.

Artaxerxes' II Cadusian Campaign
(385 BC)

Cadusii

Victory

Negotiated peace with rival chiefs

Revolt of the Satraps
(372–362 BC)

Rebel satrapies

Victory

Rebellions crushed

Second conquest of Egypt
(c. 340 BC)

Egypt

Victory

Egypt is conquered for a second time by Iran

Macedonian invasion of Iran
(355–328 BC)

Macedonia

Defeat

Iran conquered by the army of Alexander the Great

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:

Perdiccas's faction

Second War:

Polyperchon's faction
Epirus

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)

Antigonid dynasty

Victory

Seleucid control of Babylonia, Media, and Elam

Seleucid–Mauryan war (305–303 BCE)

Maurya Empire

Defeat

Treaty of the Indus

Seleucid Empire's eastern Persian satrapies ceded to Mauryan Empire.
Seleucus gives the hand of his daughter to Chandragupta, founding a dynastic alliance.

Syrian Wars

(274–168 BC)^[19]

Antiouchus' Bactrian Campaign

Ptolemaic Egypt

Victory

Seleucid annexation of Ptolemeic holdings in Asia Minor, Coele-Syria, Cyprus, and other Ptolemeic holdings outside of Egypt.
Roman intervention against Seleucids and Macedonia during the Sixth Syrian War.

(209–206/5 BC)

Greco-Bactrian Kingdom

Victory

Antiochus III recognizes Euthydemus's reign

Roman–Seleucid War (192–188 BC)^[20]

Roman Republic

Defeat

Peace of Apamea

Campaigns of Artaxias I

(189–165 BCE)

Atropatene
Kingdom of Cataonia
Kingdom of Pontus

Defeat

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

Parthian Empire
(247 BC–224 AD)

Parni Conquest Parthia

(238 BC)

Victory

• Rise of the Parthian Empire

• The beginning of the Seleucid–Parthian Wars

Seleucid–Parthian Wars
(238 BC–129 BC)

Parni

Persis Elymais Characene

Scythians

Arabs

Victory

• Expulsion of the Seleucids from Iran

Parthian–Bactrian War (150 BC)

Second Parthian-Kushan War

Greco-Bactrian Kingdom

Victory

Western Bactria annexed to the Parthian Empire.
Greek debilitation and arise of Kushan Empire in the zone

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

Kushan Empire

Defeat

Kanishka I repels the invasion

Battle of Ecbatana

(129 BC)

Victory

End of Hellenistic rule in Iran

Nomad invasion of Drangiana^[21]^[22]

(128-115 BC)

Parthian invasion of Armenia

Indo-Scythians

Saka

Yuezhi

Victory

Parthian reconquers western Bactria and expand into Amu Darya and Arachosia

The House of Suren gets the Indo-Parthian territories.

(120–100 BCE?)

Atropatene

Victory

Parthians add territories

Parthian expedition to Arabia^[23]

(119 BC)

Mithridates II's war with the Seleucids.

Ancient Arabs

Victory

End of Arab raids on Babylonia.

(112-109 BC)

Victory

Parthian conquers Mesopotamia and reduce Seleucids into Syria

Chinese–Parthian War^[24]

(104–102 BC)

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)

Defeat

Osroene and Atrpatakan loyalty to Tigranes the Great

Battle of Carrahe

(53 BC)

Pompeian–Parthian invasion of 40 BC

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)

Battle of Philippi

Supported by:

Supported by:

Defeat

The Second Triumvirate wins the Roman Civil War, then reinstates control over the eastern provinces.

(40–38 BC)

Herodian Kingdom of Judea

Roman Republic

Defeat

Status quo ante bellum

Antony's Parthian War

(36–20 BC)

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)

Kushan invasion of Indo-Parthia

Kingdom of Iberia

Defeat

Orodes of Armenia is deposed

(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)

Roman–Parthian War of 58–63

Roman Empire (until 51)

Victory

The Roman–Parthian War of 58–63 start

(58–63 AD)

Parthian Empire
Kingdom of Armenia

Roman clients

• Sophene

• Lesser Armenia

• Iberia

• Commagene

• Pontus

Stalemate

Treaty of Rhandeia

Minor territorial gains for Roman clients
Parthians establish the Arsacid dynasty of Armenia

Roman–Parthian Wars
(66 AD–216)

Roman Empire
Pontus

Status quo ante bellum

Borders changed several times.

Trajan's Parthian campaign

(115–117)

co-belligerant Jewish/Judean zealots^{[citation needed]}

Babylonians rebels Armenian rebels

Roman–Parthian War of 161–166

Client Parthian state

Stalemate

Rome gains Parthian territories on the East, but evacuates the Mesopotamia province and Roman Armenia due to revolts.
Osroes I defeat Roman client Parthamaspates

(161–166)

Pro-Parthian Edessans

Battle of Ctesiphon (198)

Pro-Roman Edessans

Defeat

Minor Roman territorial gains and Armenia consolidated as a Roman client

Parthian War of Caracalla

Defeat

Roman sacks Persian capital

(216–217)

Victory

Rome is forced to pay tribute to Parthia

Sassanid Empire
(224–651)

Battle of Hormozdgan

(224)

Sassanids

Victory

• Fall of the Parthian Empire

• Rise of the Sasanian Empire

Sasanid conquest of Sakastan

(225–226)^[26]

Sassanids

Indo-Parthian Kingdom

Victory

Consolidation of the Sasanian Empire on eastern Persia

Ardashir I invasion of Armenia

(226–238)

Mesopotamian campaigns of Ardashir I

Defeat

Sassanid withdrawal

(229–241)

Kingdom of Hatra

Victory

Both sides get territorial gains.

Roman-Sassanid Wars
(232–440)

Perso-Roman wars of 337–361

Shapur I campaign on the East

Status quo ante bellum

Borders changed several times.

(241–242)

part of Sasanian–Kushan Wars

Indo-Sasanians

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

Battle of Resaena

(243)

Defeat

Roman recovers Nisibis and Singara

(244)

Victory

Roman cedes Armenia and Mesopotamia

Siege of Nisibis

(252)

Victory

Persian capture of Nisibis

Battle Of Barbalissos

(253)

Victory

Shapur's army won against Valerian's army

Siege of Antioch (253)

Siege of Dura-Europos (256)

Victory

Persian capture of Antioch

Victory

Persian capture of Dura-Europos

Battle of Edessa

(260)

part of Crisis of the Third Century

Siege of Caesarea Cappadocia (260)

Roman Syria

Victory

Roman Emperor Valerian was captured.
Fulvius Macrianus his sons (Quietus and Macrianus Minor) as joint emperors in opposition to Valerian's son Gallienus.
Odaenathus declares himself King of Palmyra and start the process for the independence of its Kingdom.
Persian raids Cilicia and Cappadocia.

part of Crisis of the Third Century

Persian invasion of Palmyre and Anatolia

Victory

Persian capture of Kayseri

(260–262)

part of Crisis of the Third Century

Battle of Ctesiphon (263)

Roman Empire (loyals to Gallienus)

Palmyra

Roman Empire (loyals to Fulvius Macrianus)

Stalemate

Palmyrene forces expulses Persians invaders from Syria, then stablish an Empire against Roman authorities.
Romans, loyals to Fulvius Macrianus, reconquers Antioch, the Orontes, Sebaste and Pompeiopolis.
Romans, loyals to Gallienus, kills the usurpers on the Balkans and re-stablish the order.
Shapur I evacuates Cilicia and Ancient Syria, then moves to the east to continue the war against Romans and Palmyreen, which invaded Mesopotamia.

part of Crisis of the Third Century

Victory

Persian expels Romans and Palmyrenes from Mesopotamia.

Palmyrene second campaign against Persia

(266)

Palmyrene third campaign against Persia

Co-belligerent: Germanic peoples

Palmyrene Kingdom

Co-belligerent: Roman Empire

Defeat

Persian allows Palmyrene to free trade in the Silk Road that year.

(269)

Sasanian revolts against Barham II

Tanukhids

Palmyrene Kingdom

Inconclussive

Vaballathus assumed the victory title of Persicus Maximus, but there wasn't any significative change.
Zenobia plans the Palmyrene invasion of Egypt to avoid trade route to the Euphrates in Sasanian Empire

(274–293)

Victory

Revolts suppressed

Narseh's insurrection

(293)

Zoroastrians

Narseh's forces

Manichaeists

Defeat

Bahram III is deposed, Kartir reforms are abolished, Zoroastrian theocracy ends and Sasanian empire is centralised.

Battle of Carrhae (296)

Victory

Persian invasion of Mesopotamia and Armenia success

Battle of Satala (298)

Shapur ll's Arab Campaign

Defeat

Roman expels Persians from Armenia, capture Narseh's wife, raid Ctesiphon and gains territory on the Peace of Nisibis (299).

(325)

Perso-Roman wars of 337–361

Arabs

Victory

The Sasanian Empire establishes suzerainty over all of the Persian Gulf and numerous factions in Arabia
Wall of the Arabs was constructed to prevent raids by the Arabs

(337–361)

Xionites/Kidarites

Indecisive

Status quo ante bellum

Wars of Shapur II with the Chionites and Kushans^[27]

(350–358)

part of Sasanian–Kushan Wars and Sasanian–Kidarite wars

Kushano-Sasanian Kingdom

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

Kushano-Sasanian Kingdom

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 1st Armenian campaign (359–361)

Victory

Death of Arshak II

Kidarites invasions of Bactria

(360s)

Julian's Persian expedition

Kushano-Sasanian Kingdom

Kidarites

Defeat

Kidara I conquers Bactria and get the title of Kushanshah

(363)

Arab allies

Hunnic invasion of the Sasanian Empire

Victory

Sasanian annexation of five regions & fifteen major fortresses from the Roman Empire in addition to the consequent annexation of Armenia

Shapur II's 2nd Armenian campaign (367–371)

Battle of Bagavan

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)

Victory

Roman and Persian partition of Armenia
Eastern Persarmenia of Khosrov IV of Armenia is gived to Sassanids
Western Armenia of Arshak III is gived to Romans.
Both empires agreed to protect Caucasus from nomad invasions.

(395)

Roman–Sasanian War of 421–422

co-belligerant
Roman Empire

Hunnic Empire

Victory

Huns quit

(421–422)

Byzantine–Sasanian War of 440

Lakhmid Arabs

Eastern Roman Empire

Roman victory

Status quo ante bellum

Zoroastrianism is tolerated by Romans and Christianism by Persians.
Both empires agreed to fight against south nomads (Arabs).

(440)

Eastern Roman Empire

Indecisive

Status quo ante bellum

Both empires agreed to battle northern nomads (Scythians).

Battle of Avarayr

(451)

Christian Armenians

Victory

(Pyrrhic Win)

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.

Sasanian War of Succession^[28]

(457–459)

Loyals to Hormizd III

Loyals to Peroz I

Defeat

Peroz deposes his older brother

Albanian's Revolt

(457–459)

Caucasian Albania (independentists)

Church of Caucasian Albania

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)^[29]^[30]

Hephthalite–Sasanian Wars

Alchon Huns

Kidarites

Victory

End of Kidarite menace to Persia in Bactria

(484–565)

Kushano-Sasanian Kingdom

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)

Status quo ante bellum

Borders changed several times.

Anastasian War

(502–506)

Aksumite invasion of Himyar

Draw

Status quo ante bellum^[31]

•Byzantium pays a small amount of money^[32]^: 77

(518–525)

Himyarite Kingdom

Jewish Himyarites

Supported by:
Sasanian Empire

Kingdom of Aksum

South Arabian Christians

Supported by:
• Byzantine Empire

Defeat

Aksumite victory and conquest of Yemen
End of persecution of Christians by Jewish Himyarites
Byzantines success in establishing an anti-Sasanid bloc in Arabia Felix

(526–532)

Victory

*Sasanians retained Iberia

Byzantines retained Lazica

Treaty of Eternal Peace

Byzantines paid tribute of 11,000 lbs (5,000 kg) gold

Lazic War

(541–562)

Belisarius' invasion of Mesopotamia in 541

Victory

Fifty-Year Peace Treaty

Ethiopian–Persian Wars
(570–578)

Sasanian reconquest of Yemen

Himyarite Kingdom

Supported by:

Jewish Himyarites

Kingdom of Aksum

Aksum Yemen

Supported by:
Byzantine Empire

South Arabian Christians

Victory

Ethiopians expelled from the Himyarite Kingdom. (Yemen is annexed by the Sasanian Empire)

War for the Caucasus

(572–591)

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^[33]

First Perso-Turkic War
(588–589)

Hephthalite Empire
Göktürks

Victory

The Sassanids captured Balkh.

Sasanian civil war of 589–591

Supporters of Bahram Chobin

Dissatisfied Sasanian nobles

supported by:
Byzantine Empire

Defeat

Khosrow II faction's victory

Vistahm Rebellion

(590–596)

Parthians led by Vistahm

Victory

Revolt suppressed

Byzantine–Sassanid War

(602–628)

Avars (and Slavic allies)

Western Turkic Khaganate

Status quo ante bellum

The Sasanians agree to withdraw from all occupied territories and return the "True Cross".
Iranian invasion of the Byzantine Empire repelled after initial successes in conquering the Levant, Egypt, and much of Anatolia.
Beginning of the Sasanian civil war of 628–632
Exhaustion of both empires, leaving them vulnerable to the early Muslim conquests of the Rashidun Caliphate.

Second Perso-Turkic War
(606–608)

Western Turkic Khaganate
Hephthalite Empire

Victory

Turkic invasion of Iran repelled

Jewish revolt against Heraclius (614–617/625)

Jewish rebels

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)^[34]

Sasanian Egypt

Kingdom of Makuria

Kingdom of Nobatia

Roman Egypt

Inconclusive

Persians are expelled by Byzantines, but Persian incursions destroy Christian Churchs and debilitate Nobatians, causing its decline and further conquest by simultaneous Makurian invasion.

Third Perso-Turkic War
(627–629)

Sasanian civil war of 628–632

Principality of Iberia

Supported by:

Eastern Turkic Khaganate

Western Turkic Khaganate
Supported by:

• Byzantine Empire

• Tang China

Defeat

Byzantine control of Georgia

The Parsig faction

The Nimruzi faction

The Pahlav (Parthian) faction

Shahrbaraz's army

Stalemate

Yazdegerd III is recognized as king of Iran.
Weakening of the Sasanian Empire
The governors of the provinces of Mazun and Yemen gain independence (disintegration of Sasanian rule in the Arabian peninsula).

Muslim conquest of Persia
(633–654)

Muslim conquest of Transoxiana

Supported by:

Rashidun Caliphate

Kanarang

Defeat

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

Tang China

Protectorate General to Pacify the West

Sassanids in exile

Rashidun Caliphate (until 661)

Umayyad Caliphate (from 661)

• Western Turkic Khaganate

Stalemate

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.

Iranian Intermezzo (821–1090)

(673–751)

Battle of Talas

Second Turkic Khaganate
Tang China

Tibetan Empire Karluk mercenaries

Principalities of Tokharistan

Sogdian principalities

Khwarazm

Fergana

Türgesh Kaghanate

Victory

Islamization of Transoxiana
End of Chinese dominance and influence in Transoxiana

Second Fitna (Muslim civil war of 680–692)

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.

Umayyad campaigns in India

(712–740)

part of Muslim conquests in the Indian subcontinent

Defeat

Arab, and later Turco-Persian Muslim invasions to India, stop for the next 250 years.
Islamization of modern Pakistan.

Third Fitna

(744–750)

Abbasid Revolution

Abbasid expeditions to East Africa

Supported by:

Some Arabs
Alids/Shia Muslims (mostly Persians)
Mawali

Kharijites

Umayyad Caliphate

Supported by:

Qays

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

(784–804)

Supported:

Stalemate

Arabs finally conquer Tabaristan, but the locals obtain more authonomy after revolt.

(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.

Fourth Fitna (Abbasid civil war of 811–813/819)

Al-Ma'mun (supported mostly by Persian forces)

Tahir ibn Husayn

Al-Amin (supported mostly by Arab forces)

Ali ibn Isa ibn Mahan

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.

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.

Mazyar uprising

(839)

Tahirid dynasty

Abbasid Caliphate

Spahbed Mazyar and

Khaydhar ibn Kawus al-Afshin's forces

Victory

Mutasim Maziar was arrested and sent to Baghdad. Tahirid control over Tabaristan was therefore secured.

Zaydid revolt of 864

Tahirid dynasty

Hasan ibn Zayd's forces

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)

Samanid conquest of northern Iran

• Khazars (from 965)

Burtas

Alans

• Byzantine Empire (941)

Sarir

Volga Bulgaria

Kievan Rus'

Oghuz Turks

Pechenegs

• 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.

(900–901)

Battle of Gorgan (900)

Samanid Empire

Abbasid Caliphate

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

Defeat

Armenia success to maintain its independence.

Qarmatian invasion of Iraq (927–928)

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

Saffarid dynasty
(861–1003)

Yaqub's campaigns to the east (861–870)

part of Muslim conquests in the Indian subcontinent

Saffarid dynasty

Abbasid Caliphate

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)

Battle of Dayr al-Aqul
Part of Abbasid decline (861–940)

Saffarid dynasty

Ayyars

Stalemate

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.
Saffarid conquest of Khorasan to their own empire in eastern Persia.
Saffarid invasion to Iraq, then withdrew of Bagdad in 876.

Battle of Mecca (883)

Part of Abbasid decline (861–940)

Victory

(900)

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

Tahir ibn Muhammad ibn Amr

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)

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.

Ghaznavid dynasty
(962–1186)

March of Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni to India (1001–1027)

Ghaznavid campaigns in India

Medieval India

Hindu Shahis

Victory

The northern parts of India were annexed by Iran. Somnath temple was destroyed and its treasures looted.

(10th and 11th centuries)

Medieval India

Victory

The northern parts of India were annexed by Iran.
Somnath temple was destroyed and its treasures looted.
Later Islamic empires would appear on the subcontinent.

Seljuq Empire
(1037–1194)

Seljuk-Ghaznavid Wars

Victory

• Fall of the Ghaznavid Empire

• Rise of the Seljuk Empire

Siege of Hamadan (1047)

Victory

Hamedan and Isfahan are conquered by Seljuk empire.

Georgian–Seljuk wars

(1048–1213)

Zakarid Armenia

Defeat

Initial victory on the Great Turkish Invasion. Then Georgia liberates from being tributary of Seljuk and even invades Iran.

Byzantine–Seljuq wars
(1048–1308)

Empire of Trebizond
Crusader states

Victory

Most of Anatolia conquered by the Seljuks

Overthrow of the Qarmatians

(1058–1077)

Uyunid Emirate
Abbasid Caliphate

Qarmatians

Victory

End of Qarmatian rule in eastern Arabia

Seljuk war of succession

(1063)

Battle of Damghan (1063)

Alp Arslan forces

Qutalmish forces

Victory

Alp Arslan obtains the throne.

Battle of Manzikert
(1071)

Victory

Seljuks enter Anatolia.

Seljuk Civil War

Battle of Kerj Abu Dulaf (1073)

Malik-Shah I forces

Kerman Seljuk Sultanate

Qavurt and his son forces

Victory

Malik Shah maintains the throne

Battle of Ain Salm

(1086)

Sultanate of Rûm

Victory

death of Suleiman ibn Qutalmish

Nizari–Seljuk conflicts

(1090–1194)

Seljuk Empire
Abbasid Caliphate
Fatimid Caliphate (succeeded by the Ayyubid Sultanate)
Crusader states

(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)

Muslims :

Crusaders Kingdom of France Byzantine Empire Armenian Cilicia County of Flanders Papal States Republic of Genoa Holy Roman Empire County of Sicily Duchy of Apulia and Calabria

Defeat

The Crusade assists in capturing Nicaea, restoring much of western Anatolia to the Byzantine Empire
The Crusaders successfully capture Jerusalem and establish the Crusader states

Siege of Mosul (1096)

Uqaylid dynasty

Victory

Seljuks conquers the territory of the Uqaylid State

Battle of Ghazni (1117)

Victory

Bahram of Ghazna succeeded to the throne as the Seljuk's vassal

First Siege of Baghdad (1136)

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.

(1141)

Qara Khitai (Western Liao)

Karluks

Defeat

Khwarazm became a vassal state of the Kara-Khitan.

Second Crusade

(1147–1150)

Muslim :
- Seljuk Empire
- Abbasid Caliphate
- Fatimid Caliphate
- Nizari Ismaili state in Syria (the Assassins)

Crusaders

Western front (Reconquista)

Wendish Crusade

- Holy Roman Empire (Germany)
- Jutland-Kingdom of Denmark
- Zealand/Scania-Kingdom of Denmark
- Kingdom of Poland

Victory

Lisbon captured by the Portuguese, Tarragona and Tortosa captured by the Catalans
Wagria and Polabia captured by the Saxon Crusaders

Second Siege of Baghdad (1157)

Indian campaigns of Muhammad of Ghor

Defeat

Caliph al-Muqtafi successfully defended his capital against the coalition armies of Seljuq Sultan Muhammad of Hamadan and Qutb ad-Din of Mosul.

Ghurid dynasty
(879–1215)

Battle of Ghazni (1148)

Ghurid dynasty

Ghaznavids

Victory

The Ghurid ruler defeated Bahram-Shah and took the city while Bahram-Shah fled to India.

Battle of Ghazni (1151)

Ghurid dynasty

Ghaznavids

Victory

The Ghurid ruler defeated Bahram-Shah, captured the city, and destroyed it as revenge for the execution of his brother Quṭb ud-Dīn in 1149.

(1175–1206)

Victory

Muhammad of Ghor seizes much of northern India.
Foundation of Delhi Sultanate
Islamization of Bangladesh

(1204)

Defeat

Ghurids lost suzerainty of Khurasan to the Khwarezmian Empire

Ghurid invasion of Tibet

(1206)

Ghurid dynasty

Tibetan people (Era of Fragmentation)

Defeat

Tibetan indepencen seizured
Death of Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khalji

Khwarazmian dynasty
(1077–1231)

Mongol invasion of Persia (1218–1256)

Khwarazmian dynasty

Nizari Ismaili state
Abbasid Caliphate

Mongol Empire

Defeat

Khwarezmia domains added to the Mongol Empire
Jalal al-Din Mangburni resists in exile until 1231 in India and the Caucasus.
Mongol invasions of Georgia and Mongol invasions of Anatolia begin.

Georgian-Khwarazmid war (1225–1228)

Khwarazmian dynasty

Principality of Maragheh

Siege of Jerusalem (1244)

Victory

Khwarezmian last domains added the Georgian domains

Seljuk-Khwarazmid war

(1230)

Battle of Yassıçemen

Khwarezm Shahs

Seljuk rebels

Empire of Trebizond

Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm

Ayyubid Sultanate

Defeat

Khwarezmian last domains partitioned between Seljuks and Mongols

Ayyubid Sultanate

Khwarazmians

Kingdom of Jerusalem

Victory

Muslim capture of Jerusalen

Ilkhanid dynasty

(1256–1335)

Mongol invasions of Anatolia (1241–1335)

Part of Mongol invasion of West Asia

Mongol Empire

Ilkhanate

Principality of Khachen

Sultanate of Rum

Anatolian Beyliks

Victory

Mongols adds the Anatolian domains to Persian-centered Ilkhanate.

Siege of Baghdad (1258)

Mongol Empire

Ilkhanate
- Georgia^[35]
- Armenian Cilicia^[35]

Principality of Antioch

Victory

Abbasid territories added to Persian centered Ilkhanate and starts the Mongol invasions of the Levant
End of the Islamic Golden Age

Toluid Civil War

(1260–1264)

Kublai Khan and his allies

Ariq Böke and his allies

Victory

Berke–Hulagu war

(1262)

Ilkhanate

Supported by:
Byzantine Empire

Golden Horde

Supported by:
Egyptian Mamluk Sultanate

Inconclusive

Kaidu–Kublai war

(1268–1301)

Yuan dynasty

Ilkhanate (ally of Kublai)

Chagatai Khanate

House of Ögedei

Golden Horde (ally of Kaidu until 1284)

Inconclusive

Egyptian Mamluk Sultanate

Mongol invasions of the Levant (1260–1323)

Mongol raids into Palestine
- Part of the Crusades (Lord Edward's crusade and Crusade of the Infants of Aragon)

Ilkhanate of the Mongol Empire

Yuan Empire
Golden Horde of the Mongol Empire (1259–1264)
Kingdom of Jerusalem
Knights Templar
Knights Hospitaller

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.

Esen Buqa–Ayurbarwada war

(1314–1318)

Yuan dynasty

Ilkhanate

Chagatai Khanate

Victory

Muzaffarids
Jalayirid Sultanate
Tughlaq dynasty

Timurid dynasty
(1370–1507)

Campaigns of Timur
(1380–1402)

Timurid dynasty

Golden Horde
Kingdom of Georgia
Delhi Sultanate
Ottoman Empire
Knights Hospitaller

Victory

Rise of the Timurid Empire in Iran
The Delhi Sultanate became a Timurid vassal.
Outbreak of the Ottoman Civil War

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

Collapse of the dynasty

Rise of the Shi'ite Safavid dynasty

Battle of Nakhchivan (1406)

Part of Timurid Invasion of Azerbaijan

Timurid dynasty

Qara Qoyunlu

Defeat

Invasion repelled

Safavid dynasty
(1501–1736)

Persian-Uzbek Wars
(1502–1510)

Turkoman invasions of Georgia

Uzbeks

Victory

Fall of the Shaybanid Empire

Shirvanshah
Safavid Empire (1502)

Kara Koyunlu (1407–1468)

Aq Qoyunlu (1468–1502)

Victory

End of invasions against Georgia and consolidation of Safavids in Persia

Kurdish-Yazidi uprising against the Safavids
(1506–1510)

Yazidis

Victory

Uprising suppressed when the Yazidi leader, Shir Sarim, was defeated in the battle

Portuguese–Safavid wars (1507–1625)

British East India Company

Imamate of Oman
Supported by:

Portuguese Empire

Kingdom of Ormus

Supported by:

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 Chaldiran
(1514)

Ismail I invasion of Georgia

Defeat

End of Shia uprisings in the Ottoman Empire

(1516–1522)

Battle of Teleti

Samtskhe-Saatabago rebels

Samtskhe-Saatabago

Stalemate

Initial Persian victories, putting vassal governors in Georgia. Then withdrawal after Ottoman intervention

Battle of Jam (1528)

Uzbeks

Victory

Safavids Empire defeated Uzbeks and reconquered Herat.

Ottoman–Safavid War of 1523
(1532–1555),

Part of French–Habsburg rivalry

Supported by:

Habsburg monarchy^{[citation needed]}

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

Georgian-Safavid wars

(1556–1659)

Uzbek invasion of Khorasan (1578)

Kingdom of Kartli

Kingdom of Kakheti

Stalemate

Persians subdue Georgian kingdoms as vassals of Safavids, but Georgians got restoration of its autonomy

Shaybanids

Victory

Uzbeks withdrew from northeastern Iran and Persians refused to pay them tribute.

Ottoman–Safavid War of 1578
(1578–1590)

Kingdom of Kartli

Treaty of Constantinople (1590)

Crimean Khanate

Defeat

Battle of Herat

(1598)

Shaybanids

Victory

Khorasan returned to Persians

Ottoman–Safavid War of 1603 (First Stage)
(1603–1612)

Victory

Treaty of Nasuh Pasha (1612)

Siege of Dimdim
(1609–1610)

Emirate of Bradost

Victory

Uprising suppressed

Ottoman–Safavid War of 1603 (Second Stage)

(1612–1618)

Victory

Treaty of Serav (1618)

Capture of Ormuz

(1622)

British East India Company

Iberian Union

Portuguese Empire
- Kingdom of Hormuz

Victory

Ormuz annexed to Persia

Mughal–Safavid War of 1622
(1622–1623)

Mughal Empire

Victory

Kandahar falls to Persia

Ottoman–Safavid War of 1623
(1623–1639)

English East India Company

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)

part of Dutch–Portuguese War

Dutch East India Company

Supported by:

Safavid Persia

Portuguese Empire

Estado da Índia

Draw

End of Portuguese influence on the Persian Gulf

Capture of Julfar

(1633)

part of the Omani–Portuguese conflicts

Portuguese Empire

Omani Empire

Defeat

Omanis captured the two forts on Ras Al Khaimah.

Mughal–Safavid war of 1649
(1649–1653)

Victory

Persia recaptured Kandahar

Russo-Persian War of 1651
(1651–1653)

Russia

Victory

Russian fortress on the Iranian side of the Terek River destroyed, and its garrison expelled

Bakhtrioni uprising

(1659)

1717 Omani invasion of Bahrain

Turcoman tribes

Kingdom of Kakheti aided by Tushetians, Pshavs, Khevsurs

Inconclusive

Kakheti remained under Persian rule

(1717)

Omani Empire

Al Bin Ali mercenaries

Defeat

Persian loss of Bahrain

Sack of Shamakhi

(1721)

Rebellious Sunni Lezgins

Defeat

The Shia population is massacred and the city, ransacked

Russo-Persian War of 1722
(1722–1723)

Melikdoms of Karabakh and Armenian rebels

Defeat

Russians capture Derbent, Baku, and the provinces of Shirvan, Gilan, Mazandaran, and Astrabad for about a decade.

Partition of Iran with the Ottomans in Treaty of Constantinople (1724).

Siege of Isfahan
(1722)

Defeat

(Regime change)

Afghan control of most of Iran

Rise of Nader Shah against Mahmud Hotak.

Hotaki dynasty (1722–1729)

Ottoman–Hotaki War 1724–1727

Victory

Treaty of Hamedan

Ottoman recognition of Ashraf Hotak as Shah of Persia
Ottoman sovereignty over all the western and northwestern parts of Iran (including most of Tabriz, Hamadan, Kermanshah, Lorestan and most of the southern Caucasus)

Return of Safavids(Nader)
(1726–1729)

Sadozai Sultanate of Herat

Supported by:

Rebellion of Sheikh Ahmad Madani

Safavid Dynasty

Defeat

(Regime change)

End of the Hotaki dynasty

(1730)

English East India Company

Nader's personal domains

Supported by:

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)

Victory

Afghans expelled from Iran (Persia)

Herat campaign of 1731

(1731)

Sadozai Sultanate of Herat

Afghan loyalists

Victory

Fall of Sadozai Sultanate of Herat

Ottoman-Safavid war of 1730 (Nader) (1730–1735)

• Erivan Khanate

Mohammad Khan Baluch's Rebellion

• Crimean Khanate

Lezgins

Victory

Persian (Nader) reconquest of the entire Caucasus

•Treaty of Constantinople

(1733–1734)

part of Campaigns of Nader Shah

Forces loyal to Mohammad Khan Baloch

Victory

Southern Persia is re-annexed.

Afsharid dynasty
(1736–1796)

Nader Siege of Kandahar (1737–1738)

part of Campaigns of Nader Shah

Victory

End of the Hotaki dynasty

Nader conquest of the Persian Gulf (1738–1747)

part of Campaigns of Nader Shah

Omani Empire

Pirates

Victory

The Persian empire becomes the arbiter of the Persian Gulf until the collapse of the empire.

Nader invasion of India
(1738–1739)

part of Campaigns of Nader Shah

Mughal Empire

Hyderabad Oudh

Victory

Persian plundering of India

Nader Conquest of Central Asia (1738–1740)

part of Campaigns of Nader Shah

Nader invasion of Daghestan

Khanate of Bukhara

Khanate of Khiva

Victory

Conquest of the Central Asian khanates

(1741–1745)

part of Campaigns of Nader Shah

Lezgins

Mekhtuly Khanate

Victory

The Persian Empire annexes almost all of Dagestan.

Afsharid–Ottoman War War of 1743
(1743–1746)

Treaty of Kerden, Status quo ante bellum

Stalemate

Civil War between Afsharid and Qajar
(1747–1796)

Durrani Campaign to Khorasan (1754–55)

Qajar dynasty

Regime change

Mohammad Khan Qajar became the Shah of Iran.

Khozeimeh Amirdom

Defeat

Afghan dominance in the region

Zand dynasty
(1751–1779)

Campaign against Azad Khan
(1754–1762)

Azad Khan Afghan

Victory

Azad Khan's surrender

Bajalan uprising
(1755)

Bajalan Tribe (Kurds)^[36]Bajalan Tribe^[37]

Victory

Uprising uppressed

Ottoman-Persian War of 1775
(1755–1776)

Victory

Persia captures Basra.

Zand-Dutch War

Bani Utbah invasion of Bahrain

Dutch colonial empire

Dutch East India Company

Victory

Kharg Island reconquered by Persia and destruction of Fort Mosselstein

(1782–1783)

Persia

Bushehr

Sheikhdom of Kuwait

Zubarah

Defeat

Al Khalifa annexes Bahrain into its sheikhdom.

Siege of Kerman
(1794)

Qajar Dynasty

Defeat

(Regime change)

Qajars conquer and sack Kerman.

Qajar dynasty
(1785–1925)

Battle of Krtsanisi
(1795)

Kartli-Kakheti

Imereti

Victory

Tbilisi captured and sacked by Iranians. Persian reconquest of the Caucasus and Georgia.

Persian Expedition
(1796)

Victory

Tactical Russian victory
Strategic Persian victory
Russian withdrawal after the death of Catherine II

Russo-Persian War of 1804
(1804–1813),

Part of Napoleonic Wars and Russian conquest of the Caucasus

Supported by:

Russian Empire Supported by:

British Empire

Defeat

Treaty of Gulistan. Iran irrevocably cedes most of its Caucasus territories (Dagestan, Georgia, and most of the Azerbaijan Republic) to Russia.

Battle of Kafir Qala

(1818)

Part of Herati-Qajar Wars

Durrani Empire

Inconclusive

Both armies retreated

Ottoman–Persian War of 1821
(1821–1823)

Victory

Treaty of Erzurum, status quo ante bellum

Russo-Persian War of 1826
(1826–1828)

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 Republic of Armenia.

Siege of Herat
(1837–1838)

Part of Great Game

Supported by:

Principality of Qandahar

Supported by:

Defeat

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

Battle of Fort Tabarsi

(1848–1849)

Bábís

Victory

Successful repression

(1856)

Supported by:

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)

Uprising of Sheikh Ubeydullah

East India Company

Afghanistan

Defeat

Persian force occupies and later withdraws from Herat.

(1879–1880)

Supported by:

Austria-Hungary

Austro-Hungarian military mission in Persia

Kurdish tribes

Victory

Successful repression

Ottoman incursion into Persia^[39]

(1905)

Inconclusive

Increase of territorial conflicts between both empires.

Persian Constitutional Revolution (1905–1911)

Russian Invasion of Tabriz

Supported by:

Iranian constitutionalists

Persian Cossack Brigade

Parliament

Supported by:

Armenian Revolutionary Federation in Iran

Stalemate

Ottoman invasion of Persia

(1906)

Revolt of Salar-al-Daulah

Ottoman Empire Kurdish tribes

Defeat

Ottomans (with Kurdish allies) succes to invade Iranian Azerbaijan and Luristan, occupying Behik, Serdasht, Bani, Khanajin, Urmia, Gangachin, Mahabad, Khoy.

(1911–1913)

Swedish intervention in Persia

Forces of Salar-al-Daulah

Victory

Rebellion suppressed

(1911–1916)

Shiraz expedition

Sweden^[40]

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^[41]

(1911)

Forces of Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar

Supported by: Russian Empire

Victory

The Shah is expelled against from the country.

Persian Campaign
(1914–1918)

Part of World War I

Jungle Movement

Armenian volunteer units

British Empire

British Raj

Assyrian volunteers

Shekak tribesmen

German Empire

Stalemate

Occupation of Iran by Anglo-Russian and Ottoman troops
Ottoman withdrawal after signing of Armistice of Mudros
Persian famine of 1917–1919

Jungle Movement insurrection on Gilan (1915–1921)

Part of the Russian Revolution and the Russian Civil War

Simko Shikak revolt (1918–1922)

Persian Cossack Brigade

Russian Empire (1915–1917)

White movement (since 1920)

British Empire

Jungle revolutionaries

Persian Socialist Soviet Republic

Supported by:
Soviet Russia (since 1920)

Soviet Caspian Flotilla

Victory

Revolt suppressed
Anglo-Soviet Trade Agreement forces the retreat of Bolsheviks from northern Iran.

Yarahmadzai uprising

(1916–1934)

Qajar and Pahlavi Iran

Supported by: British Empire

British Raj

Yarahmadzai tribe

Supported by: German Empire (until 1918)

Victory

Balochistan is pacified and partitioned between Iran and British India.

Part of Assyrian genocide

Qajar and Pahlavi Iran

Assyrian levies^[42] Assyrian volunteers^[43]

Irregular Kurdish militias

Supported by:

Victory

Revolt suppressed

Mohammad Khiabani's uprising (1920)

Persian Cossack Brigade

Mohammad Khiabani's forces

Azerbaijan rebels

Victory

Revolt suppressed

Pessian's Khorasan Revolt (1921)^[44]

Autonomous Government of Khorasan

Khans of Khorasan

Victory

Revolt suppressed after the death of Mohammad Taqi Pessian

1921 Persian coup d'état (1921)

Jangalis

Simko Kurdish rebels Colonel Pesian's forces

Supported by: Soviet Union

Persian Cossack Brigade
Supported by:

United Kingdom

Defeat

Power takeover by Sayyed Ziaoddin Tabatabaee
Suppression of Colonel Pessian's revolt and dissolution of the Autonomous Government of Khorasan
Dissolution of the Republic of Gilan
Continuing conflict with Simko Shikak until 1922
Deterioration of Persian control over Sheikh Khazal's Emirate of Muhammara until 1925

Sheikh Khazal rebellion (1922–1924)

Qajar and Pahlavi Iran

Sheikhdom of Mohammerah

Bakhtiari tribesmen

Arab separatists

Supported by:

Victory

Rebellious Arab forces disbanded
Bakhtiaris defeated
Khazal arrested
Sheikhdom of Mohammerah abolished
Reza Khan re-established full control over the Emirate of Muhammara.

Turkoman Rebellion in Eastern Iran (1924–1926)^[45]

(1924–1926)

loyalist Kurdish tribes

Quchan Kurds

Supported by:

Simko Shikak revolt (1926)

Turkmen rebels

rebel Kurdish tribes

Shadillu kurds

Supported by:

Soviet Union^[46]

Victory

Rebellion suppressed and Soviet plans to stablish a turkic protectorate are avoided.

Pahlavi dynasty
(1925–1979)

Iran

Assyrian volunteers
Assyrian levies

Irregular Kurdish militias

Shikak tribesmen
Herki tribesmen
Begzadeh tribesmen

Victory

Revolt suppressed; Simko Shikak fled to Mandatory Iraq

Persian conquest of West Baluchistan^[47]^[48]^[49]^[50]

(1928–1935)

part of Yarahmadzai uprising

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 Shiite 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)

Part of World War II

Iran

Nazi Germany (Abwehr)

Soviet Union

Islamic Jihad Organization

India

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

Nazi Germany (Abwehr)

Qashqai people

Victory

Germans fails to instigate a nomadic rebellion in the Persian Corridor.

Khuzestan revolt^[51]

(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

First Iraqi–Kurdish War

(1961–1970)

KDP

Supported by:

Iran

Israel^[52]

United States (alleged)^[53]

Before 1968:

Republic of Iraq

Syria (1963)^[54]

After 1968:

Ba'athist Iraq

Stalemate

Several Iraqi offensives intended to suppress the Kurdish rebellion fail.
Iraqi–Kurdish Autonomy Agreement of 1970
Arabization program continued

Dhofar Rebellion
(1963–1976)^[55]

Iran

Oman

PFLOAG

PFLO

Victory

Defeat of insurgents, modernization of Oman

1967 Kurdish revolt in Iran (1967)

Iran

Revolutionary Committee leadership:

KDP-I

Victory

Kurdish revolt suppressed:

Insurgency in Balochistan (1973–present)

Iran^[55]

Pakistan

Baloch separatist groups

Taliban-aligned groups

Supported by:

Ongoing

Insurgency mostly repressed

Second Iraqi–Kurdish War

(1974–1975)

KDP

Supported by:

Iraq

Defeat

Peshmerga fighting ability destroyed
Iran withdrew its support for KDP

Arvand Conflict
(1974–1975)

Iran

Iraq

Victory

1975 Algiers Agreement
Iran consolidates control over the Shatt al-Arab/Arvand Rud waterway
Tensions between Iran and Iraq over the disputed waterway and border escalate into a full-scale war in 1980

Islamic Republic of Iran
(since 1979)

Iranian Revolution and Consolidation
(1979–1983)

Iran

Imperial State

Islamic Republic victory

Rival political factions and separatist movements crushed

Tens of thousands of political executions in the aftermath (7,900 from 1981 to 1985, 3,800 to 33,000 in 1988, unknown in 1986–1987 or 1979–1980)

1979 Kurdish rebellion in Iran (1979)

Iran

KDP-I

Komala

IPFG

OIPFG (Minority)

Supported by:

Iraq

Victory

Iranian victory, but pockets of KDPI resistance remained until 1996.

1979 Khuzestan insurgency (1979)

Iran

DRFLA

APCO

PFLA

AFLA
Supported by:
Iraq

Victory

Uprising quelled
Iranian Embassy siege in 1980

Qatif conflict (1979–present)

part of Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict

Iran

Shia militants

Saudi Arabia

Ongoing

Mostly repressed from 1983 to 2011 by Saudi government. Sunni government executes many Shia rebels.

Iran–Iraq War
(1980–1988)

Iran

KDP

PUK

Badr Brigades

Iraq

MEK

PDKI

Stalemate

Both Iraq and Iran accepted UNSC Resolution 598.

Return to status quo, observed by UNIIMOG

Multinational Force in Lebanon
(1982–1984)

Part of Lebanese Civil War

Iran

Syria

Progressive Socialist Party

Amal Movement

France
United States
Italy

Stalemate

Syrian Allied victory^[59]

Multinational forces fail to prevent collapse of Lebanese Army into Syrian- or Israeli- supported militias^[60]
Multinational forces evacuated after the US embassy and US Marine barracks are bombed by the Islamic Jihad Organization
Multinational forces oversee withdrawal of Palestine Liberation Organization
Humanitarian crisis in southern Lebanon
Civil war continues until 1990
President Hafez al-Assad continues his occupation of Lebanon until his son and later president Bashar al-Assad orders a withdrawal from the country

Tanker War

(1984−1988)

Iran
Supported by:

Pakistan^[61]^[62]

Iraq

Supported by:

Ceasefire

(1984−1991)

Iran

KDP-I

Komala

Victory

Both armed forces debilitate and Iran maintain control of Iranian Kurdistan.

Iran–Israel proxy conflict (1985−present)

Iran
Supported by:

Hamas
Hezbollah
Houthi movement
Lebanon
Syria
Iraq (from 2006)
Sudan (until 2015)

Israel
Supported by:

United States
Persian opposition

Ongoing

Iran-Israel conflicts continues

Tactical victories from Iran and its proxies
Tactical victories from Israel
Strategic stalemate

KDPI insurgency (1989–1996)

Iran

KDP-I

Victory

KDPI announces unilateral cease-fire in 1996.

1991 Iraqi uprisings

Shia and leftist elements of opposition:'

SCIRI/Badr Brigades
Dawa
Communist Party
Pro-Syrian Ba'athists
Army and militia deserters/defectors ----

Kurdish and Assyrian rebels:

Peshmerga:

Assyrian Democratic Movement

Support:

United States^[63]

Iran^[64]

Syria

Government

Support:

MEK

Victory

Ba'thist government victory

Kurdish gets Kurdistan Region

Tajikistani Civil War

(1992– 1997)

part of Post-Soviet conflicts

United Tajik Opposition

Afghanistan (until 1996)

- Jamiat-e Islami (until 1996)^[65]

Supported by:

al-Qaeda^[66]
Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan
Iran (alleged, denied by Iran)^[67]^[68]^[69]^[70]

Tajikistan

Russia
Uzbekistan
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Supported by:

Belarus^[72] (weapons supplies)

Ceasefire

Inter-Tajik Dialogue and the United Nations success to put an end to the conflict

Joint commission for national reconciliation and prisoner exchanges

Arab civil unrest and insurgency on Khuzestan

(1999−2020)

Part of Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict

Iran

Supported by:

Iraq (until 2003)
Saudi Arabia

Victory

Revolts suppressed

2000–2006 Shebaa Farms conflict

(2000–2006)

Part of Iran–Israel proxy conflict, Hezbollah–Israel conflict

War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

Supported by:
Iran
Syria

Israel

Defeat

Israel maintains the territories

United States

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

Taliban

Al-Qaeda

055 Brigade

Foreign fighters

Victory

Fall of the Taliban government in Afghanistan
Then Iran quits the coalition and form the Axis of Resistance after Axis of evil speachment, ending his collaboration with the US coalition.

Iraqi insurgency

(2003–2011)

New Iraqi government

Supported by:

Iran^[75]^[76]

NATO

NATO Training Mission – Iraq

Israel^[77]^[78]

United Nations

United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq

United States

MNF–I (2003–09)

Shia insurgents

Ba'ath loyalists

Fedayeen Saddam (2003 Only)
SCJL
- JRTN

Sunni insurgents

Al-Qaeda in Iraq (2004–06)
Islamic State of Iraq^[79] (from 2006)
Islamic Army of Iraq
Ansar al-Sunnah (2003–07)
Others
Iraqi Islamic Resistance Army (not to be confused with Iraqi Hamas)

Inconclusive

End of American military presence in Iraq with 2007–2011 withdrawal
Continued Iraqi conflict in the War in Iraq (2013–2017)
Stronger Iranian influence in Iraq^[80]^{[dubious – discuss]}^[81]^[82]^[83]

Sistan and Baluchestan insurgency
(2004–present)

Iran

Jundallah (Iran) (2004–2011)

Jaish ul-Adl (2013–present)

Ansar Al-Furqan (2013–present)

Ongoing

Capture of Abdolmalek Rigi

Dissolution of Jundallah

Iran–PJAK Conflict
(2004–present)

Iran

Turkey

PJAK

Ongoing

PJAK withdraws from Iranian territory

Houthi insurgency

(2004–2014)

part of Yemeni crisis and Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict

Houthi Movement

Yemen (pro-Saleh forces)

Supported by:

Iran^[84]^[85]

North Korea^[86]^[87]^[88]

Libya (until 2011)^[89]

Yemen

Sunni tribes^[90]
Al-Islah militias

Saudi Arabia

Supported by:

Jordan^[91]

Morocco^[92]

United States^[93]^[94]

Ansar al-Sharia

al-Qaeda^[95]

Victory

Houthis take control of Sanaa, Sa'dah and establish an independent administration that is allied to Iran.

2006 Lebanon War
(2006)

part of Iran–Israel proxy conflict

Iran

Lebanon

Israel

Stalemate

U.N brokered ceasefire through UNSCR 1701
Israeli strategic and military failure^[96]^[97]^[98]^[99]

Afghanistan–Iran border skirmishes

(2007–2023)

Iran

Afghanistan

Stalemate

Status quo ante bellum

Gaza War (2008–2009)

2009 Sudan airstrikes
part of Iran–Israel proxy conflict

Gaza Strip

Supported by:
Iran

Israel

Defeat

Israel tactical victory

Syrian Civil War
(2011–present)

Syria

Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria

Iran

Russia

Ongoing

Rebel and Islamist uprisings quelled in much of Syria
Most of Syria now controlled by Syrian Government, which is supported by Iran Islamic State in Syria defeated near the end of 2017

Insurgency in Bahrain (2011–present)

part of Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict

Al-Ashtar Brigades
Waad Allah Brigades
al-Mukhtar Brigades
God's Revenge Companies
Popular Resistance Brigades
February 14 Youth Coalition
Saraya al Karar
Asa’ib al-Muqawama al-Bahrainia
Imam al-Mahdi Brigades
al-Haydariyah Brigades

Supported by:

Iran

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

Bahrain
Supported by:

Saudi Arabia

Ongoing

Ongoing insurgency by militant groups, supported by Iran, to topple government of Bahrain

War in Iraq
(2014–2017)

Iraq

Peshmerga

Iran
Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq

Badr Organization