Allied rivalry over oil concession during World War II occupation of Iran: the Soviet perspective based on Soviet documents

The Soviet view of Allied rivalry over Iranian oil concessions lies at the centre of the discussion in this article. This rivalry, framed as ‘rivalry within partnership’, had earlier precedents, and was resumed with vigour in 1943, with the added dimension of propaganda used against each other. It took place at a crucial time for Iran, namely during the Allied occupation during World War II, coinciding with the Tehran Conference and the preparation of Iranian political parties for the fourteenth Majlis elections (along with the role that Muhammad Riza Shah Pahlavi played in the success of the newly established Tudeh Party of Iran in those elections) all of which as viewed from a Soviet point of view based on Soviet documents.