Pre-emptive Precedent

The invasion began early one August morning. Invok-
ing Article Six of the 1921 Treaty of Friendship, which
states, “The Soviet Government shall have the right
to send its army into Persia in order to take the necessary
military steps in its own defense,” the Soviets sent their forces
marching toward Tehran. Although tensions in the region had
been mounting steadily and strong Soviet diplomatic protests
had reached Tehran earlier in the month, the Iranians were
surprised by the attack.
The invasion carefully followed the plan laid out several
months earlier by the Soviet General Staff. A two-pronged at-
tack into the northwestern Azerbaijan Province quickly
enveloped Tabriz, Iran’s second-largest city, before progress-
ing onward toward Zanjan, Qazvin, and ultimately to the
western approaches to Tehran.
Another two-pronged attack was launched simultaneously
against Khorasan Province in the northeast. Iran’s third-largest
city, Mashhad, quickly fell to the Soviets. A third Soviet force,
along the eastern Caspian Sea coast, complemented this ef-
fort against Mashhad and helped cut off Tehran from the east.
All told, 40,000 Soviet troops participated in the initial attack,
with the occupation force quickly swelling to nearly 100,000
combat troops.
Mc NAIR PAPERS
NUMBER ELEVEN
IRAN:
SOVIET INTERESTS,