During the Soviet occupation a revival of the Azerbaijani literary language, which had largely been supplanted by Persian, was promoted with the help of writers, journalists, and teachers from Soviet Azerbaijan. In November 1945, with Soviet backing, an autonomous "Azerbaijan People's Government" was set up at Tabriz under Jafar Pishevari, the leader of the Azerbaijani Democratic Party. The first and only Prime Minister of this new and short lived Republic was Prime Minister Ahmad Kordary (variously spelled Kordari or Kodari). Prime Minister Kordary was jailed for many years by the Shah and later released due to the tireless efforts of his brother Kazem Kordary.

Cultural institutions and education in Azerbaijani blossomed throughout Iranian Azerbaijan, and speculation grew rife about a possible unification of the two Azerbaijani states, under Soviet control. Under pressure by Western powers, however, the Soviet Union reneged on its support of Iranian Azerbaijan and Iranian military succeeded in re-establishing Iranian rule in November 1946. Many of the leaders took refuge in the Azerbaijan SSR. Jafar Pishevari, who was never fully trusted by Stalin, soon died under mysterious circumstances.

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History of Azerbaijan | History of Soviet Union | Cold War | History of Iran | World War II client states