The beginning of realization of the new foreign policy principles of the Soviet Russia on the example of the affairs with Iran (1917-1918)

Article is prepared within the correspondence conference “1917: tragedy or triumph? Looking through the century” it is also devoted to 100-year anniversary of the October revolution of 1917. To some extent it is addition of my article “The First Steps in Formation of the Soviet-Persian Relations (1917–1921)” published in the first issue of the magazine “Istoricheskaya i sotsialno-obrazovatelnaya mysl” (Historical and SocialEducational Idea) for 2017 (Vol. 9, No. 1, Part 1, pp. 45-49).On the example of the relations with Iran the author analyzes the principles of foreign policy of the Soviet Russia based on equality, mutual respect of the people, peaceful co-existence, an internationalism, the right of the nations to self-determination, shows refusal of the Soviet Russia of the principles of imperial diplomacy. It is noted that Iran was divided in 1907 into spheres of influence between imperial Russia and England, and during World War I it is occupied by troops of England, imperial Russia and Turkey. In 1917 all inequitable agreements of the imperial government with Iran (1907, 1915) were cancelled. The author specifies that the soviet government in 1918 began to disengage the troops deployed in northwest and western Iran and also from the territory located along border of Iran and Afghanistan (the English troops occupied the south of country from the Persian Gulf to a southwest part of Afghanistan). It is emphasized that British tried to enlist counter-revolutionarily adjusted and unstable Cossacks and officers on the party. Disavowal of old diplomatic staff of Russia by soviet government abroad is considered. Heads of diplomatic representations of the Soviet Russia in case of the foreign governments began to be called plenipotentiaries of RSFSR, and the bulk of imperial diplomats which refused to serve the Soviet power were dismissed from diplomatic service. The conclusion that the Soviet-Iranian relations of the first years of the Soviet history show implementation of the new principles of foreign policy of Russia based on equality, mutual respect of the people, a right to selfdetermination, refusal of concessions, inequitable agreements, the agreements signed by the imperial government is drawn.