We all know that a Soviet invasion of Iran was considered as CENTCOM's biggest threat during the 80s.
In a limited (as in confined to the Middle East) war, could the US have actually held Iran against a Spviet armoured thrust?
Presumably, when the Soviets invade from the north and northeast, 2nd Marine Division & the 82nd Airborne go in at Bandar Abbas. The 9th Motorized, 10th Mountain, 101st Air Assault, & 24th Mech go in behind them...Would this have been enough to prevent the Red Army reaching the Gulf in say 1984 or 85?
IMHO, no, it wouldn't be; the Soviet armies (three at least, probably more in CENTCOMs estimates) were all armoured or mechanized, with the US only having one heavy division. Is it possible that the XVIII Airborne Corps would be destroyed or forced to pull a Dunkirk?