The article is devoted to the struggle of large European states to obtain profitable concessions for the construction of railways from the Persian government. Several options were proposed, British and Russian, each of which was supported by influential circles of the establishment, large tycoons and representatives of financial houses and banks. The diplomatic departments have always been the conductors of their interests. This was one of the sides of the "big game" in which, in addition to the old players, new ones were gradually included - the German Empire and the United States. Each of the participants adhered to their own plan to enslave Persia. This article examines all the vicissitudes of this geo economic and geopolitical rivalry for colonies in the Middle East.