I know that the British and Soviets invaded Iran in either 1940 or 41 because the shah wasn't anti-Axis enough for them, but: What exactly were the Iranians doing or not doing to irritate the Allies? Can anyone tell me how the Iranians dealt with the Germans or Italians before they were invaded? Were they too friendly, or not hostile enough, for the British and Soviets to tolerate them?
Were the Iranians going to let the Germans use their territory or establish a base somewhere, like the Iraqis were until their government was brought under control by the British?
And, is it true that the Soviets stayed for a while in Iranian Azerbaijan after Iran was bullied into being more anti-Axis?