570 Chapter 5
Narrative: The Soviet Union seized several Persian fishing boats in the Caspian Sea,
20 miles from the Soviet frontier. Persia protested.
MID#523
Started in August 1941. See the narrative in the 200 United Kingdom/630 Iran dyad
dispute list.
MID#20
Dispute Number: 20
Date(s): November 1945 to April 5, 1946
Participants: 365 Russia/630 Iran
Outcome (and Settlement): Yield by side A (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: The Azerbaijan Crisis concerned Iranian oil concessions. The Iranian
government entered negotiations with American and British oil companies for oil con-
cessions in early 1944, and in August an agreement for concessions in the southeast
was published. The Soviet Union, concerned that the Iranian government was giving
better treatment to the United States and Britain, sent a delegation in September to
seek exploratory rights in northern Iran. The Iranian government responded by reject-
ing all demands for concessions.
The Soviets responded by supporting a separatist movement in northern Iran to
keep the oil in the area under Soviet influence. The Soviets also maintained troops in
the northern territories in violation of the tripartite treaty of 1942. Iran and the Sovi-
ets eventually agreed to establish a joint oil company, and, in exchange, the Soviets
withdrew from northern Iran and promised to recognize Iran’s sovereignty over the
northern territories.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from November 18, 1945. End Date changed
from May 9, 1946.
MID#3199
Dispute Number: 3199
Date(s): July 31, 1951
Participants: 630 Iran/365 Russia
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Iranian frontier guards fired at a Soviet vessel that had violated Iranian
waters in the Caspian Sea on July 31, 1951. The Iranians protested the Soviet violation.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from August 2, 1951. End Date changed from
August 2, 1951.
MID#2871
Dispute Number: 2871