How did Iran play a role in the early Cold War? (IT'S NOT C) Iran was decolonized right after WWII, leading to competition for influence of the two new superpowers.
Allied pressure caused the removal of Soviet troops, who had attempted to secure access to oil, from Iran.
Iran cared little for either superpower but tried to secretly gain economic advantages from both of them.
The need for oil was growing, so NATO leaders pressured Iran to join the military partnership.