During the 19th century, the monarchy was only the most dominant of several powerful groups within Iranian society, the others being tribal leaders, landowners, and mujtahids , Shiite Muslim theologians and scholars empowered to interpret and administer religious law (the only law in force).1 Their religious control over the Iranian people and their identification with popular anti-foreign struggles following the war with Russia, an independent source of wealth through religious taxation and their control. control of the courts and education were the roots of their power. The growing appeal of mujtahids during the 19th century was partly attributable to the growth of Western influence.2 Iranian traders were upset by foreign competition, and Muslims, in general, were offended by the arrogance and behavior Western infidels. As a result, many people turned to the mullahs to air their grievances.3 The rivalry between Britain and Russia for strategic and economic advantage largely shaped Iran's history from the 19th century onwards. . Both countries believed that their presence in Iran was absolutely vital in furthering their individual imperial goals, but ultimately neither country could attempt to annex or colonize Iran without incurring the risk of a major war.4 In this way, Iranian independence was both guaranteed and compromised. :5 guaranteed, barring extraordinary circumstances, by a strategic impasse which transformed the opposition into the more economic domain; compromise, because the Qajar Shahs were forced to play an endless balancing act between the two.6In 1872, the economic rivalry between Russia and Britain entered a new phase when Nasir ed-Din Shah granted a British subject a “nationwide comprehensive agreement”. .... middle of paper ......19 Ibid, p. 800.20 Cottam, p.21.21 Upton, p.37.22 Ibid.23 Ibid.24 The Times, July 31, 1912, p. 12, cc25 THV Motter, The Persian Corridor and Aid to Russia (Washington, DC, Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the United States Army: 1952) p.157.26 Mansour Bonakdarian, “The Persian Committee and the constitutional revolution in Iran” in British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, Vol. 18, No. 2 (1991), pp. 198.27 Ibid.28 AC Millspaugh, Americans in Persia (Washington, DC, The Brookings Institution, 1946) pp.17-18.29 Ibid.30 Ibid.31 Ibid. 32 Motter, p.158.33 Millspaugh, p.18.34 Ibid.35 JM Balfour, recent Happenings in Persia (London, Read Books: republished 2008) cited in Upton, p.142.36 Millspaugh, p.19.37 Upton, p.39.38 This story of the Qajars is derived in part from Upton, p.3-10.