07590. IRAN AND THE COLD WAR. Basic history of superpower conflict in Iran -- there's been a great deal of it. Covers from Anglo-Russian rivalry of 19th century; World War II and Soviet occupation of Azerbaijan; nationalization of oil in 1951 and CIA coup in 1953; Shah as an American ally; Nixon doctrine and Iran as regional power; oil diplomacy; regional conflicts; overthrow of Shah and Carter's role; Islamic Republic and war with Iraq; superpower responses to war; conflicting views of whether Iran is really neither east nor west or is tilted toward Soviets. 10 pages, 23 footnotes, 8 bibliographic sources.