The Role of the Soviet Union
The involvement of the Soviet Union in the creation and support of the Democratic Party of Azerbaijan was a key factor in its early success. Stalin’s government viewed northern Iran as a strategic region where Soviet influence could be expanded. By supporting Azerbaijani autonomy, the Soviet Union aimed to create a buffer zone that could serve its interests in the region.
The Soviet military presence in northern Iran provided a protective shield for the Democratic Party of Azerbaijan, preventing immediate intervention by the central Iranian government. This support allowed the autonomous government to consolidate power and implement its policies without external interference—at least temporarily.
However, international dynamics soon shifted. The United States and Britain exerted diplomatic pressure on the Soviet Union to withdraw from Iran. Under the terms of the Tehran Conference (1943) and later negotiations, the Soviet Union had agreed to leave Iran after the war. In early 1946, as global tensions between the Soviet Union and Western powers escalated into the early stages of the Cold War, the Soviets began to face mounting pressure to end their support for separatist movements in Iran.