自十九世紀以來，英國與俄國在西亞與中亞爭奪勢力範圍，史稱「大博奕」。伊朗處於這個區域之內，長期承受了英俄兩國的壓力。在十九世紀末，統一的德國成為伊朗欲抗衡英俄勢力的合作對象。不過，整體而言在強權掌握遊戲規則的時代，伊朗難以擺脱束縛，追尋自主。一次大戰爆發後，伊朗雖宣布中立，但是英俄與德國及鄂圖曼帝國交戰，不僅波及伊朗西部邊界，還影響伊朗的內政與外交。1915年間伊朗内閣幾次更迭，英國都擔憂每任伊朗內閣都會向德國靠攏。然而無論伊朗內閣如何改組，她沒有放棄中立。這都是為了尋求自主，不希望受到大戰在政治與軍事方面的牽制。至1915年年底，英國試圖聯合俄國向伊朗要求結盟，目的就是在於排除伊朗與德國靠攏的可能性。於是，一戰時期歐洲強權的政治角力，對伊朗的內政與外交有莫大的影響，伊朗的中立自主仍難實現。

This article explores Anglo-Iranian relations during the early period of the First World War. From the nineteenth century on, Britain and Russia scrambled for influence in West Asia and Central Asia, the so-called ＂Great Game＂ of rivalry. Iran had long received pressure from both Britain and Russia, putting constraints on all aspects of its development. After its unification in 1871, Germany was the only powerful state upon which Iran could rely to balance the pressures from Britain and Russia, though Iran still could not get rid of all the control imposed upon it during the era of great power politics. After the outbreak of the First World War, Iran declared its neutrality but Britain suspected that Iran would soon side with Germany. Undoubtedly, Iran's neutrality was intended to preserve its autonomy and to prevent its being tied up. politically and militarily, to any states involved in the war. At the end of 1915, Britain occupied several areas in southern Iran to prevent the Germans from penetrating into the country. Britain also proposed jointly with Russia to make an alliance with Iran to eliminate the possibility of its leaning towards Germany. The rivalry of the European powers had its impact not only on Europe but also Iran's domestic and foreign policies. Therefore, Iran's goal of neutrality and independence from British and Russian pressure was still far from being achieved after the outbreak of the First World War.