1 9 1 4 ▁and ▁ 1 9 1 5 – 1 9 1 8 , ▁followed ▁by ▁Ott oman ▁forces ▁in ▁ 1 9 1 4 – 1 9 1 5 ▁and ▁ 1 9 1 8 – 1 9 1 9 ; ▁B ols he vik ▁forces ▁occupied ▁Iran ian ▁A zer ba ij an ▁and ▁other ▁parts ▁of ▁Iran ▁in ▁ 1 9 2 0 – 1 9 2 1 , ▁and ▁Soviet ▁forces ▁occupied ▁Iran ian ▁A zer ba ij an ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 1 , ▁creating ▁a ▁very ▁short - l ived ▁autonom ous , ▁Soviet - supported ▁state ▁from ▁November ▁ 1 9 4 5 ▁to ▁November ▁ 1 9 4 6 , ▁which ▁was ▁dissol ved ▁after ▁the ▁reun ification ▁of ▁Iran ian ▁A zer ba ij an ▁with ▁Iran ▁in ▁November ▁of ▁the ▁same ▁year . ▁The ▁period ▁roughly ▁from ▁the ▁last ▁major ▁Rus so - Pers ian ▁War ▁up ▁to ▁this ▁date ▁is ▁so ▁called ▁the ▁period ▁of ▁high ▁Russian ▁influ ences ▁in ▁Iran . ▁All ▁of ▁Northern ▁Iran , ▁including ▁Iran ian ▁A zer ba ij an , ▁Gil an , ▁Maz and aran , ▁Q az vin , ▁and ▁many ▁other ▁places ▁all ▁the ▁way ▁up ▁to ▁Is fah an ▁fell ▁into ▁the ▁Russian ▁sphere ▁of ▁influence . ▁Russian ▁arm ies ▁were ▁station ed ▁in ▁many ▁regions ▁of ▁Iran ian ▁A zer ba ij an , ▁Russian ▁schools ▁were ▁founded , ▁and ▁many ▁Rus si ans ▁settled ▁in ▁the ▁region