PC/WI: A mid-20th century Russo-Iranian war?

CaliGuy

Banned
Had Russia avoided the Bolshevik Revolution (by getting rid of both Lenin and Trotsky) and remained in WWI until the very end (and thus got the spoils that were promised to it by its allies after the end of WWI), would it have been plausible for Russia to invade Iran 20-30 years later?

Also, if so, what exactly would the consequences of a Russian invasion of Iran have been?

Finally, for the record, I am operating on the assumption that Russia would want to outright annex Iran in order to acquire both its large oil reserves as well as its access to the Indian Ocean. Also, I am operating on the assumption that Russia will become a dictatorship in either the 1920s or 1930s in this TL just like most other Central and Eastern European countries became in our TL.

Anyway, any thoughts on this?
 

CaliGuy

Banned
war with the British is likely
Agreed--which in turn would open up British India to Russo-Afghan attacks in this war.

Also, France would stay out of this British/Iranian-Russian war because it would feel that it needs Russian help to contain and restrain Germany in Europe, correct?
 
I mean there was a Russo-Iranian war IOTL, it just included the British helping to gang up on the Iranians in what was a minor theater of WW2.

And World War Two gives some reasonable answers about ways things could go; Russia has a pretty good shot at vasselizing smaller neighbors once the shooting starts. It's hard to conceive of an alliance that can outmuscle an alliance that includes Russia, unless the ATL Generic Russian Dictator has a Hitler-esque knack for allienating the entire globe.
 

CaliGuy

Banned
I mean there was a Russo-Iranian war IOTL, it just included the British helping to gang up on the Iranians in what was a minor theater of WW2.

And World War Two gives some reasonable answers about ways things could go; Russia has a pretty good shot at vasselizing smaller neighbors once the shooting starts. It's hard to conceive of an alliance that can outmuscle an alliance that includes Russia, unless the ATL Generic Russian Dictator has a Hitler-esque knack for allienating the entire globe.
Russia didn't aim to conquer and annex Iran in our TL's WWII, though.
 
France would stay out of this British/Iranian-Russian war because it would feel that it needs Russian help to contain and restrain Germany in Europe
depends on the strength of Germany, If its strong and threatening it will remain neutral if not they might join Britain
 

samcster94

Banned
A Tsarist Russia fighting a British backed Iran is probably quite likely, especially the later you go due to oil. Imagine a very different WWI allowing Russia to survive as a near-absolute monarchy. The invasion would likely come at a time when Iran had a coup or revolution( a bit like Afghanistan OTL), but this Russia has a more limited goal and might annex some territory if it wins.
 
A Russo-Iranian war would ultimately result in the British getting involved; perhaps even militarily, especially if Russia was intent on annexing Iran. This would possible see a revival of the "Great Game" now that Russia has a direct border with British India, along with gaining more influence in Asia and the Middle East.
 

samcster94

Banned
A Russo-Iranian war would ultimately result in the British getting involved; perhaps even militarily, especially if Russia was intent on annexing Iran. This would possible see a revival of the "Great Game" now that Russia has a direct border with British India, along with gaining more influence in Asia and the Middle East.
True, Russia wouldn't be stupid enough to annex all of Iran, but they might annex some Northern provinces(possibly places in NW Iran that speak Azeri Turkish, even if not contiguous).
 
True, Russia wouldn't be stupid enough to annex all of Iran, but they might annex some Northern provinces(possibly places in NW Iran that speak Azeri Turkish, even if not contiguous).
Maybe they would be amenable to a deal that split Iran and gave the southern portion to the UK. With this land and some concessions from Thailand it would be possible to build a railway from Singapore to Cape Town entirely on British Imperial territory.
 
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