On the choice of venue for the Tehran Conference of 1943

Abstract

The Tehran Conference had the utmost significance for the Allied military strategy in World War II and decided the fate of the post-war world order for generations to come. It was a critical juncture, a bifurcation point, in the course of international relations. This article examines the situation in which the meeting between the three Allied powers took place. In line with the systematic approach to global realities, two main stages can be distinguished in the development of world diplomacy during the first half of the 20th century: in the aftermath of World War I and following World War II. In this light, the Tehran Conference is seen as a symbolic bridge from the unstable Versailles–Washington system, with its ineffective League of Nations, to the emerging global bipolarity. It was also the moment when the United Nations, a valid arena for navigating global issues, came into being. It is concluded that a better understanding of how the Allied conferences were organized and the wartime interactions proceeded gives access to a clearer vision of the historical milestones that determined the evolution of international relations in the 20th century and continue to influence global political dynamics. The complexities in the organization of the Tehran Conference are discussed. The Soviet Union’s role in selecting the venue and ensuring the safety of the event is defined.