Complex rivalries in the region of
Khorasan led to the Afghan
Hotak dynasty invading Iran. In 1722, this conflict led to the collapse of the Safavid Empire after the
siege of Isfahan. The brief interlude between 1722 and the rise of the
Qajar dynasty in 1789–1796 was marked by widespread political turmoil in Iran and several rival attempts to establish power over the country. The Safavids failed to regain power and the Hotaks failed to establish control. The rival
Afsharid and
Zand dynasties were established by
Nader Shah (1736–1747) and
Karim Khan (1751–1779), respectively.