Zühre Nur Celep

The Qashqai, a Turkic community living in the southern regions of Iran, have played significant roles at various times in Iran’s political and cultural history, and even in its foreign policy. One of the most critical turning points in the political life of this community was the premiership of Mohammad Mossadegh. This article, addresses a gap in the Turkish-language literature by examining the position of the Qashqai during the Mossadegh era– one of the most important phases in their political history –and by exploring the extent of their rising influence in the international arena during this period. The aim of the study is to identify the reasons why the Qashqai, who had been largely pacified during Reza Shah’s reign, supported the Mossadegh administration, and to reveal their functions in this period. In this context, the study seeks to answer the following questions: “What were the main motivations that led the Qashqai to support the Mossadegh government? What were the Qashqai’s activities inside and outside the country during the Mossadegh era? How was the Qashqai’s position shaped in international diplomacy?” By focusing on a significant segment of the Qashqai’s political history, this study aims to contribute to filling an important gap in the relevant Turkish-language literature.