Imperial Iran during the Soviet–Afghan War

If the Shah was not overthrown in 1979 and his rule continued. How would Imperial Iran support the Mujahedeen in Afghanistan? Would American aid still be primarily delivered via Pakistan as per OTL or would the aid be bifurcated between Imperial Iran and Pakistan?

Personally, I think that we might see support based on denomination lines with Imperial Iran supporting the Hazara Shi'a minority, with Pakistan supporting the Pashtun guerrillas?

I wonder if we will end up with blue on blue engagements with Iranian volunteers clashing with Pakistani volunteers.
 
A surviving Imperial Iran, or even an Iran with the revolution and the overthrow of the Shah but without Khomeini coming to power, might deter the Soviets from even invading/intervening (in) Afghanistan in the first place. The Iranian military at the time of the Shah's departure was still the fourth largest military in the non-Communist world, and while Iran clearly could not take on the Soviet Union in a head-to-head war, I can't see why the Soviet leadership would risk exposing itself to US/Iranian meddling deep in its Central Asian territory.
 
Top