The use of the term Middle East as a region of international affairs apparently began in British and American diplomatic circles quite independently of each other over concern for the security of the same country: Iran, then known to the west as Persia. In 1900 Thomas Edward Gordon published an article, The Problem of the Middle East, which began:
Where did the use of the term Middle East as a region of international affairs begin? What was Iran known as to the west? When did Thomas Edward Gordon publish "The Problem of the Middle East"? What article did Thomas Edward Gordon publish? The problem of the Middle East was published by who?