The rebellion was quickly and efficiently suppressed by Reza Shah with minimal casualties, subduing the Bakhtiari tribes allied with Sheikh Khazal and resulting in his surrender and the end of Arab autonomy in Khuzestan.

As a result, cities such as Tabriz, Rasht, and Mashhad defied orders from Tehran, and many tribal populations, comprising about one-quarter of the populace, disregarded central authority.

[8] In 1921, recognizing the threat posed by Reza Khan, who had recently staged a coup d'état with Seyyed Zia'eddin Tabatabaee, Sheikh Khazal took measures to protect himself.

Another meeting in Ahvaz produced a formal agreement that Khazal and the Bakhtiaris would collaborate in all respects, while both pledged to "continue to serve the Iranian government faithfully and loyally.

[3] The nucleus of the alliance, based on Sheikh Khazal and the Bakhtiaris, sought to attract additional members, including the Vali of Posht-e Kuh, Qavam ol-Molk of Khamsah, and possibly Sawlat ol-Dowlat.

In July 1922, a column of 274 Iranian soldiers, including 12 officers under command of Colonel Hasan Agha, were sent by Reza Khan to Khuzestan through the Bakhriari mountains to put pressure on Sheikh Khazal.

Reza Shah was however preoccupied with other troubles in the Iranian frontier, most notably the Kurdish rebellion of Simko Shikak, preventing him from immediately retaliating against the Bakhtiaris.

In these letters, Khazal portrayed himself as a staunch constitutionalist from the inception of the movement, emphasizing his identity as an Iranian nationalist and a liberal democrat who found Reza Shah's authoritarianism personally offensive.

[9] Two task forces were organized: one for Dezful, headed by Major-General Ayrom, and another, under General Zahedi and Colonel Ali Akbar Javaheri-Farsi, which advanced from Isfahan and Shiraz through the Zagros Mountains into the Khuzestan Plain.

An Imperial farman (executive order) was issued, restoring the province's old name, Khuzestan, instead of Arabistan, and Sheikh Khazal lost his authority over the various tribes under his command.

In April 1925, Reza Shah ordered one of his commanders, General Fazlollah Zahedi, who had a friendly relationship with Khazal, to meet with him and ostensibly convince him to travel to Tehran.

Later that evening, a gunboat led by Meguertitch Khan Davidkhanian, sent by Reza Shah, stealthily approached the yacht, which was then boarded by fifty Persian marines.