The Iran crisis was an international crisis concerning Iran in 1946. The Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin continued to occupy Iran. After the Shah, Reza Shah Pahlavi, declared sympathies with Hitler, United Kingdom and the Soviet Union sent troops to Iran, which resulted in sending the Shah into exile to Mauritius. His son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, was then appointed as the new king by the occupying forces. In 1946 parts of Iran were occupied by British forces and the Red Army had occupied the northern parts. Stalin was attempting to extend the Soviet sphere of influence by assisting in the building of new independent countries, so the Kurdish Republic of Mahabad was founded under president Pesheva Qazi Muhammad. After the Soviet Union was forced to leave Iran because of pressure from the United States, the Iranian army with help of foreign forces and its neighbours was able to conquer the Kurdish capital Mahabad. The leaders of the Republic were hanged in Chwarchira Square in the center of Mahabad in 1947.

The result of the conflict become one of the factors in the evolving and differing political relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union. It was also one of the first steps at the beginning of the Cold War.

Literature

• André Fontaine, La guerre froide 1917-1991, Editions de la Martinière, 2004, ISBN 2846751390
• George Lenczowski, "The Communist Movement in Iran", Middle East Journal, no. 1 (January 1947) pp. 29-45
• Archie Roosevelt, Jr., "The Kurdish Republic of Mahabad", Middle East Journal, no. 1 (July 1947), pp. 247-69

1946 | 1947 | Cold War | History of Iran

Irankrise | Crise irano-soviétique | משבר איראן