High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Anglo-Persian War lasted between November 1, 1856 and April 4, 1857, and was fought between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Persia (which was at the time ruled by the Qajar dynasty). In the war, the British opposed an attempt by Persia to reacquire the city of Herat. Though Herat had been part of Persia under the Qajar dynasty, at the time the war broke out it was nominally part of western Afghanistan (Afghanistan was then a very loose entity). The campaign was successfully conducted under the leadership of Major General Sir James Outram in two theatres - on the southern coast of Persia near Bushehr and in southern Mesopotamia (the old name for the region now forming the nation of Iraq). The war resulted in Persia withdrawing from Herat and signing a new treaty in which it surrendered its claims on the city.