Middle East 571
Date(s): January 1959 to July 15, 1959
Participants: 365 Russia/630 Iran
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Persian relations with the Soviet Union had been strained at the end of
1958 by their intention to sign a peace pact with the United States. Talks of a non-
aggression treaty between the Soviet Union and Iran failed in February 1959, and
relations continued to worsen. On March 16, Iran protested against repeated airspace
violations by the Soviet Union. Iran protested again on April 26, alleging that six
Soviet fighters had flown over the Gilan and Caspian areas and over northern Azer-
baijan and Khorassan provinces that border Russia. In addition to protesting, Iran
warned the Soviets of “grave consequences” if these violations continued. The Soviet
Union rejected these charges on June 4, and lodged its own protest against the recent
air maneuvers by the United States, Britain, Pakistan, and Turkey that took place close
to the Soviet border. The Soviet government protested again on July 10, alleging that
two Iranian planes flew past Russian borders and over the neighborhoods of Sarakhs
and Shir Tapeh Turkmen. Then again on July 15, another plane flew over the border
near Lenkoran, on the Caspian Sea.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from March 16, 1959. End Date changed from
June 18, 1959.
MID#2897
Dispute Number: 2897
Date(s): November 20, 1963
Participants: 365 Russia/630 Iran
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: 1–25 deaths
Narrative: Soviet fighters chased and shot down an Iranian aerial survey plane that
strayed across the border. Two Iranians aboard the plane were killed.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from November 21, 1963. End Date changed
from November 21, 1963. Fatalities changed from Missing.
MID#2602
Dispute Number: 2602
Date(s): June 21, 1978
Participants: 630 Iran/365 Russia
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: 1–25 deaths
Narrative: The Iranian government suspected that the Soviets were seeking to con-
trol portions of the Persian Gulf so Iran began allowing the United States to establish
monitoring stations in the area. These stations coordinated with Iranian spy planes
and helicopters that would fly along the Soviet border. On June 21, 1978, a Soviet
fighter jet shot down two of four Iranian Chinook helicopters that were on such a
mission.