Ancient History

Caviar & The Persians

Caviar was used by the Persians to treat medical ailments and enhance vitality. [Fletcher, Nichola; Caviar: A Global History; 2010: ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1861896506: page 42]

1800s

Persia and Russia

In 1879 a Russian company was granted the concession for co-invest in the fishing grounds in the Iranian portion of the Caspian Sea [https://de.zxc.wiki/wiki/Kadscharen] [Saffron, Inga; "Caviar: The Strange History and Uncertain Future of the World's Most Coveted Delicacy"; 2002; page 43]

20th Century

Caviar Wars

The Shah of Iran granted the concession to a Russian business to fish in Iran's territorial waters i.e. the southern shores of the Caspian Sea. [Saffron, Inga; "Caviar: The Strange History and Uncertain Future of the World's Most Coveted Delicacy"; 2002; page 43]

1917

Russian Revolution

The Shah of Iran cancels the concession to a Russian business after non-payments, and is granted to another Russian business, which subsequently also fails to make payments to Iran. The concession is cancelled and the Shah grants no further ones, opting instead for Iran to make full use of her fishing grounds in her territorial waters. [Fletcher, Nichola; Caviar: A Global History; 2010: ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1861896506: page 113-114] [Saffron, Inga; "Caviar: The Strange History and Uncertain Future of the World's Most Coveted Delicacy"; 2002; page 44]

1953

Our Beginning's

February 1953, Iran terminates a fishing concession with the Soviet Union, thereby denying access to sturgeon in the southern Caspian Sea. ["IRAN ENDS CONCESSION IN CAVIAR TO SOVIET", Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. Feb. 1, 1953] https://www.nytimes.com/1953/02/01/archives/iran-ends-concession-in-caviar-to-soviet.html also see https://www.nytimes.com/1953/01/25/archives/mossadegh-seeks-caviar-concession-negotiating-with-soviet-to-end.html] [https://www.irannamag.com/en/article/%D8%A7%D8%B2-%DA%AF%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AE%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%84-%D9%85%D9%84%DA%A9%DB%8C%D8%9F/] Caspian Monarque begins selling wild caviar to Europe and the USA.

1960

The Shah and Caviar

During the reign of Shah Pahlavi of Iran, the nation had secured sovereign right to the production of sturgeon in the southern part of the Caspian Sea, which also permitted consumption of caviar by Iranians as well. [Shardina, Ekaterina ; The Great Caspian Caviar Game; 2007; Security Index: A Russian Journal on International Security Volume 13, 2007 - Issue 1, pages 55-78; https://doi.org/10.1080/19934270.2007.9756489] Shah Reza Pahlavi was famously allergic to caviar [Cooper, A. S. (2012). The Oil Kings: How the U.S., Iran, and Saudi Arabia Changed the Balance of Power in the Middle East. United Kingdom: Simon & Schuster.; Page 381]

1979

Islamic Revolution

The Iranian authorities temporarily bans consumption of sturgeon and caviar in Iran until it was determined that it is permissible in Shiite Islam. [https://online.ucpress.edu/gastronomica/article-abstract/7/2/17/47334/How-Caviar-Turned-Out-to-Be-Halal] US President Ronald Reagan bans import of sturgeon products into the US. As the US consumed 80% of caviar (Iranian or other), this had a signficant effect on caviar industry in Iran. [https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/126/iran.pdf]

2000

USA Removes Caviar Sanctions

USA removes ban on importing food products from Iran, permitting direct export of caviar from Iran to the US. [https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/ls760.aspx]

2006

Iran Exempt from Caviar Ban

Iran exempted from CITES Wild Caviar ban in April 2006, resulting in Iran gaining a monopoly over caviar. [https://cites.org/sites/default/files/common/quotas/2006/Sturgeon2006.pdf] https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/iran-let-off-hook-over-caviar-sales-bmptcj25n0c

2008

CITES Laws

CITES imposes 125g limit for personal use when passing through national borders [https://www.fws.gov/news/ShowNews.cfm?newsId=D952E012-D53A-53D5-9B2AE3E48DA6F047]