Anglo-Soviet Invasion of Iran

Anglo-Soviet Invasion of Iran
Part of Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II
Soviet tankmen of the 6th Tank Division drive through the streets of Tabriz on their T-26 light tank.
Date 25 August – 17 September 1941 Location Imperial State of Iran 32°N 53°E / 32°N 53°E / 32; 53Coordinates: 32°N 53°E / 32°N 53°E / 32; 53 Result Decisive Allied victory Territorial changes Rezā Shāh Pahlavi abdicates Northern Iran occupied by USSR Southern Iran occupied by British empire
Belligerents
Soviet Union  United Kingdom British India  Australia	Imperial State of Iran
Commanders and leaders
Dmitri T. Kozlov Sergei Trofimenko Edward Quinan William Slim	Shah Rezā Pahlavi Ali Mansur Mohammad-Ali Foroughi Gholamali Bayandor † Ahmad Nakhjevan Mohammad Shahbakhti
Strength
Soviet: 3 armies Commonwealth: 2 divisions and 3 brigades 4 sloops 1 gunboat 1 corvette 1 armed merchant cruiser 1 armed yacht Unknown number of auxiliary vessels	9 divisions 60 aircraft 2 sloops 4 patrol boats
Casualties and losses
Soviet: 40 KIA 3 planes lost Commonwealth: 22 KIA 50 WIA 1 tank destroyed	~800 KIA 2 sloops sunk, 2 patrol boats captured 6 planes lost
Civilian casualties: ~200 Iranian civilians killed

 Soviet Union
 United Kingdom

The Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran, also known as Anglo-Soviet invasion of Persia, was the invasion of the Empire of Iran during World War II by Soviet, British and other Commonwealth armed forces. The invasion lasted from 25 August to 17 September 1941 and was codenamed Operation Countenance. Its purpose was to secure Iranian oil fields and ensure Allied supply lines (see Persian Corridor) for the USSR, fighting against Axis forces on the Eastern Front. Though Iran was neutral, the Allies considered King Reza Shah to be friendly to the Axis powers, deposed him during the subsequent occupation and replaced him with his young son Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

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