Occupation of Iran in World War 2

April 2^nd, 1941 does not, on first glance, appear to have been an important day in World War Two, however, for Iran it was the day that brought ruin. In neighbouring Iraq, nationalist, pro-German, forces had overthrown the government.  In 1939 Iraq had severed diplomatic relations with Germany--as it was obliged to do because of treaty obligations with Britain. In 1940, however, the Iraqi nationalist and ardent anglophobe Rashid Ali succeeded Nuri as Said as prime minister. The new prime minister was reluctant to break completely with the Axis powers, and he proposed restrictions on British troop movements in Iraq.