Blood in the Sand: A story of the Soviet-Iran War and its aftermath
- Thread starter lerk
- Start date
Nothing stops the concurrent USSR invasion of Afghanistan either. This gets *fugly* with 8-10 years of Soviet cities and Rural resistance. Also the pieces of advanced tech like F-14a fighters and lord knows what else could prove a windfall to the USSR and keep it around another 1-3 years depending on the situation
Part 1, Chapter 4: Beginning of Operatsiya Burya Pustyne (Operation Desert Storm), July to November 1980
By July of 1980, just two months into the war, the Soviet Union had consolidated control over most of the far northern regions of Iran, alongside that with Tehran being captured. However, with a hostile Iranian state encompassing most of Iran and creating terrorist groups on Soviet soil, the USSR began to prepare for a plan to destroy the Iranian government once and for all and replace it with a friendly pro-Soviet government, alongside that giving Arabistan and Balochistan independence, which was suggested by Iraq. The plan was code named Operatsiya Burya Pustyne (Operation Desert Storm), and the Soviet government had expected full occupation by February 1981.
The first wave of attacks began on July 23rd, 1980, with Iranian positions along the Kermanshah province being attacked by Soviet and Iraqi planes. That same day, the Iraqi navy moved into the Persian Gulf, attacking Iranian naval positions and capturing oil fields. The United States' sanctions on Iraq for allying with the Soviets in the invasion of Iran was proving to be a double edged sword as Iranian oil became Iraqi oil overnight, causing a rise in oil prices. Numerous bombing raids occurred all across areas of Iran not under Soviet occupation.
After three days of airstrikes and bombing raids, the Soviet Union began to drive south, expecting minimal resistance what with the quick capture of Tehran, along with successes in the northwest section of Iran. They had, however, failed to realize that Qom, a city which had Soviet troops enter in less than 45 minutes after the beginning of Burya Pustyne, was a holy site for Shias, and because of that it would be a tough nut to crack. Numerous Iranian soldiers were on nearly every street corner, but no building was as guarded as the Fatima Masumeh Shrine, a sacred site among Shia Muslims. Not only that, but in the northeast the Soviets were also facing resistance among Iranians, notably in Mashhad, which holds the Imam Reza shrine. By August most Iranian resistance in the two cities was wearing thin, though it was at a high cost for the USSR. Now, Iranian forces focused on protecting the Fatimah Masumeh and Imam Reza shrine. Soon, the Soviet Union began to plan to crush the resistance there, religious sensitivities be damned.
At around 9 PM Iranian Time Soviet planes began to carry out an airstrike in Mashhad targeted at the Iranian military which lasts for ten minutes. Following that, a bombing campaign was launched around the Imam Reza Shrine, greatly damaging it. An hour later, Soviet troops stormed the shrine, killing every Iranian inside it. The same plan was done with the Fatimah Masumeh shrine, though the execution of it was shorter.
The anger of what happened to both shrines was tremendous. Khomeini, following the attack of the shrines, ordered the formation of the Mobilization Resistance Force, or Basij, a voluntary organization meant to attack the Soviets. Immediately, numerous people volunteered, including those as young as ten. The Basij used numerous tactics to attack Soviet troops, though what was more jarring was the use of suicide bombings, especially by child soldiers.
From then on, the Soviet Union began to face a much tougher resistance. Iranian troops began to plant mines, and Shias from all across the world, and even some Sunnis, began to go into Iran to fight the Soviets. Shia groups were being formed in Iraq, though like their counterparts in Azerbaijan only managed to commit petty crimes at first, though as time will go on things will escalate. Around the same time following the shrine siege, Iraq declared independence of the Democratic Republic of Arabistan, which was quickly recognized by Iraq, the USSR, the Warsaw Pact and Afghanistan. Most of the world refused to, calling Arabistan an illegal state, and called for a UN-monitored referendum.
By the time the Soviet Union had reached Isfahan, the 1980 United States Presidential Election had concluded. Ronald Reagan, through a 298-240 electoral college victory (though loses the popular vote) had become the 40th President of the United States. Reagan throughout the campaign trail had called Khomeini a "freedom fighter" and criticized Carter for his unwillingness to support him and Iran in general. The election of Reagan gave the UK the incentive to aid Iran both through the economic and military aid, expecting the US to begin doing the same. Detente was slowly being overturned, and now the USSR would had to prepare itself against an Iran which would soon be getting American weaponry.
The first wave of attacks began on July 23rd, 1980, with Iranian positions along the Kermanshah province being attacked by Soviet and Iraqi planes. That same day, the Iraqi navy moved into the Persian Gulf, attacking Iranian naval positions and capturing oil fields. The United States' sanctions on Iraq for allying with the Soviets in the invasion of Iran was proving to be a double edged sword as Iranian oil became Iraqi oil overnight, causing a rise in oil prices. Numerous bombing raids occurred all across areas of Iran not under Soviet occupation.
After three days of airstrikes and bombing raids, the Soviet Union began to drive south, expecting minimal resistance what with the quick capture of Tehran, along with successes in the northwest section of Iran. They had, however, failed to realize that Qom, a city which had Soviet troops enter in less than 45 minutes after the beginning of Burya Pustyne, was a holy site for Shias, and because of that it would be a tough nut to crack. Numerous Iranian soldiers were on nearly every street corner, but no building was as guarded as the Fatima Masumeh Shrine, a sacred site among Shia Muslims. Not only that, but in the northeast the Soviets were also facing resistance among Iranians, notably in Mashhad, which holds the Imam Reza shrine. By August most Iranian resistance in the two cities was wearing thin, though it was at a high cost for the USSR. Now, Iranian forces focused on protecting the Fatimah Masumeh and Imam Reza shrine. Soon, the Soviet Union began to plan to crush the resistance there, religious sensitivities be damned.
At around 9 PM Iranian Time Soviet planes began to carry out an airstrike in Mashhad targeted at the Iranian military which lasts for ten minutes. Following that, a bombing campaign was launched around the Imam Reza Shrine, greatly damaging it. An hour later, Soviet troops stormed the shrine, killing every Iranian inside it. The same plan was done with the Fatimah Masumeh shrine, though the execution of it was shorter.
The anger of what happened to both shrines was tremendous. Khomeini, following the attack of the shrines, ordered the formation of the Mobilization Resistance Force, or Basij, a voluntary organization meant to attack the Soviets. Immediately, numerous people volunteered, including those as young as ten. The Basij used numerous tactics to attack Soviet troops, though what was more jarring was the use of suicide bombings, especially by child soldiers.
From then on, the Soviet Union began to face a much tougher resistance. Iranian troops began to plant mines, and Shias from all across the world, and even some Sunnis, began to go into Iran to fight the Soviets. Shia groups were being formed in Iraq, though like their counterparts in Azerbaijan only managed to commit petty crimes at first, though as time will go on things will escalate. Around the same time following the shrine siege, Iraq declared independence of the Democratic Republic of Arabistan, which was quickly recognized by Iraq, the USSR, the Warsaw Pact and Afghanistan. Most of the world refused to, calling Arabistan an illegal state, and called for a UN-monitored referendum.
By the time the Soviet Union had reached Isfahan, the 1980 United States Presidential Election had concluded. Ronald Reagan, through a 298-240 electoral college victory (though loses the popular vote) had become the 40th President of the United States. Reagan throughout the campaign trail had called Khomeini a "freedom fighter" and criticized Carter for his unwillingness to support him and Iran in general. The election of Reagan gave the UK the incentive to aid Iran both through the economic and military aid, expecting the US to begin doing the same. Detente was slowly being overturned, and now the USSR would had to prepare itself against an Iran which would soon be getting American weaponry.
Basically the Soviets are being...Soviet. Iraq could very easily get annexed or couped if its not careful and the Saudis are going to be begging for US help. Once Soviet armor reaches the Gulf things get scary fast. F-14a Tomcats are already in Iran as are other advanced US weapons so those need to get gone as does the intelligence network/infrastructure the US had there at the time. What of Afghanistan, the Reza dynasty, and Khomeini himself?
When does Khomeini decide to flee or will he try for martyrdom?
What of the Empire-in-exile/Reza loyalists?
Does this give a reason for the Saudis and Iranians to play nice (Tehran and Riyadh as friends will scare the **** out of some folks)?
Was there no hostage crisis ?
There would be no Shia groups in Azerbaijan given they are secular,anti-Iranian, and supportive or indifferent to the Soviet Union. In Iraq given Saddam's success in taking Khuzestan , It would weaker there.
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He will hide out somewhere underground in Iran. Right now he is in Bandar Abbas, though that will change.
There is no empire-in-exile. As for Reza loyalists, their sentiment is the same.
IOTL Iran and the Saudis began to hate each other when Iran began to call Saudi Arabia a US puppet. Now with Iran becoming more and more dependent on foreign aid, they want to get as much help as they can get.
IOTL the hostage crisis began when the Shah successfully fled to the US and the US refused to hand him over to the Iranians. Here he fails, and is executed in a show trial.
There were Shia groups in Iraq IOTL in the 1980s. As for Azerbaijan, separatism was growing then due to tensions with Armenians. With the Soviets attacking sacred Shia religious shrines, even the most secular Shia Muslim would begin to feel uneasy. Not only that, but foreign aid could have them become more violent what with more weapons to attack the Soviets.
Like I said weaker not non-existent
That would be the Armenians, Soviet Union backed Azerbaijians in the dispute and It only started in the late 1980s.
Doesn't mean the Soviets won't have there own version of events
From which border the only one in this TL with a connection would Nakhchivan which then have to cross over Armenia. Given the Soviet Union is a closed society, they would be lucky to get a few bullets
They could be funded by the US through Saudi Arabia.
Why wouldn't they have to go through Armenia? Azeri nationalists claim Syunik, the part of Armenia which separates Nakhchivan from the rest of Azerbaijan, as Azeri territory, so they will set up bases there. The US will support those separatists through Turkey, which would also support them.
Also, one more thing, while the Azerbaijan Patriotic Front is at first religion-oriented, they will begin to secularize as time goes on.
There are no Azeris living in that area and how do they get pass the strict Soviet security also trying to ship arms into the Soviet Union would be extremely provocative
That would make sense if they were Iranian Azerbaijanis to start with
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I don't understasnd just how exactly Reagan didn't win on an even bigger landslide TTL since Carter completely failed to meet Soviet aggression and the sanctions on Iraq only made the economy worse. He should easily win an electoral wipeout and get a majority of the popular vote. Carter may have slightly higher support with no crisis, but there's absolutely nothing in his administration that would keep it close. Most Americans would consider Carter one of the worst at this point.
True on both accounts, but there is nothing saying they can't go into the Armenian SSR and form small bases, probably as big as one's house. The CIA had committed numerous activities in the USSR, as well.
Polling showed Carter winning even in October.
Yes but they never tried ship large amounts of arms into the Soviet Union
Part 1, Chapter 5: Remainder of Burya Pustyne, November 1980 to January 1981
It became abundantly clear that by November even when Burya Pustyne's intended end date of January 31st, 1981, the goals (which were to crush the Iranian government or severely weaken it that it will collapse in mid-February), would not be accomplished. A pro-Iranian president-elect in the United States made it even more obvious. Despite the best of their ability, videos of Khomeini's sermons made its way to Red Iran (as it was beginning to be called in Western media) and Iraq, which caused problems for the annual Arba'een pilgrimage in Karbala, Iraq.
Every year around late November, Shias embark on a pilgrimage to Karbala. Late November is around the time the forty-day mourning period after Ashura ends. Usually >10 million Shias go to Karbala, and entire Shia villages and towns in Iraq are emptied out around two weeks before the pilgrimage is supposed to start. A controversy erupted among the Shia, and to a lesser extent Sunni, world when Saddam Hussein, a Sunni, banned pilgrimage for "security reasons", though some suspected anti-Shia bigotry on his part. In response, Khomeini gave a sermon in Arabic (while Khomeini did not speak Arabic, a speech was given to him by his companions who did) calling for Iraqi Shias to go ahead with the pilgrimage and refuse to abide by the ban. A couple days later, on December 3rd of 1980, the sermon made its way to Iraq. Only 200 Shias heeded the call, though that number was enough to cause trouble. Iraqi police tried to make them disperse, but those Shias fought back. After around ten minutes, a riot broke out which continued unabated for three days. As the dust settled, only two of those Shias who heeded Khomeini's call survive; one made his way to Iran and fought for Khomeini and was killed in 1986, the other managed to flee to Turkey and was interviewed in the 2004 Iraqi documentary titled The Karbala Riots.
The documentary's name is what the riots were remembered as. Iraq was suspended from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and pledged to only return Iraq's membership when the Ba'ath government falls. Iraq defended itself by making fabricated claims that some of those Shias were Iranian and Pakistani agents, but had little to back it up. Noted Shia cleric Ayatollah Mohammad Baqir al-Hakim announced the formation of the Fighters for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (FIRI), which had the goal of forming an Iran-style regime in Iraq. FIRI was supported covertly by the United States following 1981 through Saudi Arabia (and later, Syria). FIRI was also funded by Pakistan, and had ties with Kurdish separatists in Iraq, which was one of the reasons for the 1989-1990 Iraqi genocide, with Kurds and Shias both being targeted. The Karbala Riots were seen as a pivotal moment in Iraqi history, and today in Iraq December 5th-December 8th are national holidays meant to mourn the Shias that were killed.
Outside of Iraq, the riots also affected the Soviet war effort. Iranian forces had managed to push Soviet forces back to the outskirts of Isfahan, an offensive to reach Birjand was halted, but what could be the most important ripple effect of the Karbala riots was the Qom Uprising. If the map of areas Red Iran controlled was any indication, it was that they had pushed so far into Iranian territory, that they must have been widespread support for them in the places they've controlled, right? The answer, as some began to find out was no. While in some places you can argue there was widespread support for the Rajavi-Kianouri duumvirate, those places were small and were far from each other. Most of the time there was a hushed disapproval - many Iranians saw the ruthlessness of the Soviet forces and were worried that any loud discontent could not just lead to them being arrested, but could also lead to the harassment of their family and friends from Soviet and Red Iranian forces. In Qom, a holy city, the news of the Karbala riots had the people of the city forget their worry. The Soviets had damaged the Fatimah Masumeh Shrine, now their ally opened fire on Shia pilgrims. Clearly, this was more than just a country which declared war to protect their own interests, no - this was a power actively hostile to Shi'ism, a new Umayyad Caliphate. On December 14th, Qommites attacked Soviet and Red Iranian troops, set fire to government buildings and killed "collaborators", who were mostly just those who probably were critical of the USSR, but not enough. A small Iranian exclave was set up in Qom and lasted for a couple days until the USSR sent troops which defeated the disorganized, ill-equipped Qom army. Still, the resistance of Qom to the Soviets was seen in the entire world, and was used by Iranians as a propaganda tool, and to this day it is remembered on every December 14th as Qom Martyr's Day in Iran. The 1983 American film Loyal To The End shows a portrayal of a Unionist exclave in Mississippi during the American Civil War, though its inspiration is clear - at the end of the opening credits has a dedication: "This film is dedicated to the courageous people of Iran".
As if the Soviets needed more of it, the crushing of the Qom exclave just led to more bad luck. More and more Iranians were becoming soldiers, more and more Pakistani and Arab weapons were being sent to Iran, more and more Muslims were going to Iran to fight for Khomeini, and with the Qom Uprising being crushed, now the Soviets were being driven out of the outskirts of Isfahan, and Khomeini and ordered the (almost destroyed) Iranian air force to attack Soviet targets on December 29th, but the Soviet response made the almost destroyed air force completely destroyed, yet one of the small raids led to the death of the perpetual Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko, who was visiting troops in Tehran. The death of such an important figure in the Cold War had surprised many, and further cemented Carter's beliefs that funding Khomeini was a bad idea. Reagan sent his condolences, though privately he was not so convinced.
As 1980 turned into 1981, the next meeting of the Soviet government had everyone distrusting each other. Burya Pustyne was an utter failure, no way the Soviets were going to occupy a country as large and anti-Soviet as Iran in such a short time. At least Afghanistan went through a communist revolution, which could explain why Afghanistan was fairly easier, but Iran had gone through an Islamic revolution, and trying to fight that would be extremely hard. Some Western commentators had joked about the irony of the USSR trying to suppress a revolution they feel would cause problems in their own country, as many Europeans and Americans wanted to do the same to the Soviets in the 1920s, and such jokes really got to some Soviet politicians. As morale on the Soviet government was decreasing, nobody could decide what to do after Burya Pustyne. Withdrawal was not an option - if the Iranians weren't going to do anything after Aliabad, after the invasion they definitely will. A few still stuck with Burya Pustyne, arguing that while it might not reach the intended end date of January 31st, there was a chance Iran might break by the end of February.
Ultimately, the prevailing plan was an Afghanistan spillover, where Soviet troops in Afghanistan will attack Iranian Balochistan and set up an independent Balochistan there, and aid Soviet troops in Eastern Iran. At the same time, Soviet troops in the far northeast of Iran will go to Afghanistan to be in place of the Soviet troops which left Afghanistan. It was agreed upon on January 6th, and it took exactly one fortnight for Soviet troops to be prepared. As Soviet troops began to attack Balochistan, Ronald Reagan took the oath of office. It wouldn't be long until Iranian fighters received M-16s.
Every year around late November, Shias embark on a pilgrimage to Karbala. Late November is around the time the forty-day mourning period after Ashura ends. Usually >10 million Shias go to Karbala, and entire Shia villages and towns in Iraq are emptied out around two weeks before the pilgrimage is supposed to start. A controversy erupted among the Shia, and to a lesser extent Sunni, world when Saddam Hussein, a Sunni, banned pilgrimage for "security reasons", though some suspected anti-Shia bigotry on his part. In response, Khomeini gave a sermon in Arabic (while Khomeini did not speak Arabic, a speech was given to him by his companions who did) calling for Iraqi Shias to go ahead with the pilgrimage and refuse to abide by the ban. A couple days later, on December 3rd of 1980, the sermon made its way to Iraq. Only 200 Shias heeded the call, though that number was enough to cause trouble. Iraqi police tried to make them disperse, but those Shias fought back. After around ten minutes, a riot broke out which continued unabated for three days. As the dust settled, only two of those Shias who heeded Khomeini's call survive; one made his way to Iran and fought for Khomeini and was killed in 1986, the other managed to flee to Turkey and was interviewed in the 2004 Iraqi documentary titled The Karbala Riots.
The documentary's name is what the riots were remembered as. Iraq was suspended from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and pledged to only return Iraq's membership when the Ba'ath government falls. Iraq defended itself by making fabricated claims that some of those Shias were Iranian and Pakistani agents, but had little to back it up. Noted Shia cleric Ayatollah Mohammad Baqir al-Hakim announced the formation of the Fighters for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (FIRI), which had the goal of forming an Iran-style regime in Iraq. FIRI was supported covertly by the United States following 1981 through Saudi Arabia (and later, Syria). FIRI was also funded by Pakistan, and had ties with Kurdish separatists in Iraq, which was one of the reasons for the 1989-1990 Iraqi genocide, with Kurds and Shias both being targeted. The Karbala Riots were seen as a pivotal moment in Iraqi history, and today in Iraq December 5th-December 8th are national holidays meant to mourn the Shias that were killed.
Outside of Iraq, the riots also affected the Soviet war effort. Iranian forces had managed to push Soviet forces back to the outskirts of Isfahan, an offensive to reach Birjand was halted, but what could be the most important ripple effect of the Karbala riots was the Qom Uprising. If the map of areas Red Iran controlled was any indication, it was that they had pushed so far into Iranian territory, that they must have been widespread support for them in the places they've controlled, right? The answer, as some began to find out was no. While in some places you can argue there was widespread support for the Rajavi-Kianouri duumvirate, those places were small and were far from each other. Most of the time there was a hushed disapproval - many Iranians saw the ruthlessness of the Soviet forces and were worried that any loud discontent could not just lead to them being arrested, but could also lead to the harassment of their family and friends from Soviet and Red Iranian forces. In Qom, a holy city, the news of the Karbala riots had the people of the city forget their worry. The Soviets had damaged the Fatimah Masumeh Shrine, now their ally opened fire on Shia pilgrims. Clearly, this was more than just a country which declared war to protect their own interests, no - this was a power actively hostile to Shi'ism, a new Umayyad Caliphate. On December 14th, Qommites attacked Soviet and Red Iranian troops, set fire to government buildings and killed "collaborators", who were mostly just those who probably were critical of the USSR, but not enough. A small Iranian exclave was set up in Qom and lasted for a couple days until the USSR sent troops which defeated the disorganized, ill-equipped Qom army. Still, the resistance of Qom to the Soviets was seen in the entire world, and was used by Iranians as a propaganda tool, and to this day it is remembered on every December 14th as Qom Martyr's Day in Iran. The 1983 American film Loyal To The End shows a portrayal of a Unionist exclave in Mississippi during the American Civil War, though its inspiration is clear - at the end of the opening credits has a dedication: "This film is dedicated to the courageous people of Iran".
As if the Soviets needed more of it, the crushing of the Qom exclave just led to more bad luck. More and more Iranians were becoming soldiers, more and more Pakistani and Arab weapons were being sent to Iran, more and more Muslims were going to Iran to fight for Khomeini, and with the Qom Uprising being crushed, now the Soviets were being driven out of the outskirts of Isfahan, and Khomeini and ordered the (almost destroyed) Iranian air force to attack Soviet targets on December 29th, but the Soviet response made the almost destroyed air force completely destroyed, yet one of the small raids led to the death of the perpetual Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko, who was visiting troops in Tehran. The death of such an important figure in the Cold War had surprised many, and further cemented Carter's beliefs that funding Khomeini was a bad idea. Reagan sent his condolences, though privately he was not so convinced.
As 1980 turned into 1981, the next meeting of the Soviet government had everyone distrusting each other. Burya Pustyne was an utter failure, no way the Soviets were going to occupy a country as large and anti-Soviet as Iran in such a short time. At least Afghanistan went through a communist revolution, which could explain why Afghanistan was fairly easier, but Iran had gone through an Islamic revolution, and trying to fight that would be extremely hard. Some Western commentators had joked about the irony of the USSR trying to suppress a revolution they feel would cause problems in their own country, as many Europeans and Americans wanted to do the same to the Soviets in the 1920s, and such jokes really got to some Soviet politicians. As morale on the Soviet government was decreasing, nobody could decide what to do after Burya Pustyne. Withdrawal was not an option - if the Iranians weren't going to do anything after Aliabad, after the invasion they definitely will. A few still stuck with Burya Pustyne, arguing that while it might not reach the intended end date of January 31st, there was a chance Iran might break by the end of February.
Ultimately, the prevailing plan was an Afghanistan spillover, where Soviet troops in Afghanistan will attack Iranian Balochistan and set up an independent Balochistan there, and aid Soviet troops in Eastern Iran. At the same time, Soviet troops in the far northeast of Iran will go to Afghanistan to be in place of the Soviet troops which left Afghanistan. It was agreed upon on January 6th, and it took exactly one fortnight for Soviet troops to be prepared. As Soviet troops began to attack Balochistan, Ronald Reagan took the oath of office. It wouldn't be long until Iranian fighters received M-16s.
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