Various problems concerning Georgian–Iranian relations during 19th century are discussed in this article. Georgia’s incorporation into the Russian empire at the beginning of the century inevitably meant curtailing the sphere of infl uence of Iran over east Georgia, but even under these circumstances the relations between the two countries were not severed. After considering the historical background and the climate that took shape during the new phase in Georgian- Iranian relations, we turn to economic relations. In the nineteenth century, Georgia and its capital gradually became a transit route for Iranian goods entering Russia and Europe, and vice versa. Th e social life and the cultural activities of the Iranian community of Tbilisi are discussed in the fi nal section of the article.