Tabriz during World War I

On 31 June 1914, three days after the war began, the Iranian government declared neutrality.

The Russians proceeded on toward the west, invaded Urmia and went up to Van Lake.

At the same time the Russians entered central Iran and occupied Qazvin, Karaj, and Tehran.

After the February Revolution in 1917, front-line Russian forces dissolved and started to retreat from Iran.

Ottoman forces quickly took action and occupied northwestern Iran and Tabriz.