Around the mid 18th century, after the murder of Nader Shah, widespread crisis began; out of this, eventually, after some decades of Zand rule, Agha Mohammad Khan of the Qajar tribe emerged victorious.

Russia was actively meddling in domestic Iranian affairs since the downfall of the Safavids and the Russo-Persian War of 1722-1723 of about the same time.

In 1787, a last attempt was made to reach an agreement between Agha Mohammad Khan and the government of Catherine II.

Thereafter, Russia decided to deal with his rebel brother, Morteza Qoli, whom it intended to install on the Iranian throne as the tsaritsa's vassal.

[1] Morteza, fleeing from his brother, came to St. Petersburg, where he was well received by Empress Catherine II, who pursued political goals against Persia.