Diplomatic Talks Between Iran and Azerbaijani SSR on Extraction of “Azerbaijan’s troops” from Iran

Abstract

On May 18, 1920, the Red Army under the name of "Azerbaijani troops", having violated the northern borders of Iran, occupied the port of Anzali.As a result of military operations, “Azerbaijani military” forces occupied the northern part of Iran.Before Anzeli’s operation, the commander of the Caspian Fleet Theodor Raskolnikov arrives in Gilan to meet the commander of the Jengeli detachment Mirza-Kuchek khan. After meeting with him, Raskolnikov promises to equip the detachment with ammunition and weapons.
Lacking sufficient forces to resist a military invasion, the Iranian state chose to resort to diplomatic negotiations. Firstly they sent a delegation to Baku under the head of the Aliqulu Ansari State Counselor to negotiate with Azerbaijan SSR. The State Counselor was then Iran's newly appointed ambassador to Russia. In October 1920, The State Counselor went to Baku with a delegation of 10 people. During the talks, issues were discussed about the withdrawal of military units from the northern region of Iran and the elimination of the Rasht front.
On February 26, 1921, the two countries became closer allies due to the Treaty between Soviet Russia and İran. After the Treaty, the bolshevik military units at first, and then the British troops left Iran. On October 22 of that year, the Azerbaijan SSR troops were completely removed from Iran because of the insignificance of the Gilan revolution for Russia.