Although attempts had been made to sell the Tomcat to the air forces of Canada, Germany, and Japan, the Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF) would ultimately be the sole foreign customer for the Tomcat. During the reign of the last Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, in the early 1970s, the IIAF was searching for an advanced fighter, specifically one capable of intercepting Soviet MiG-25 reconnaissance flights. After a visit of U.S. President Richard Nixon to Pahlavi Iran in 1972, during which Iran was offered the latest in American military technology, the IIAF selected and initiated acquisition of the F-14 Tomcat, but offered McDonnell Douglas the chance to demonstrate its F-15 Eagle.Cooper, Tom and Bishop, Farzad, "Iranian F-14 Tomcat Units in Combat" The US Navy and Grumman Corporation arranged competitive demonstrations of the Eagle and the Tomcat at Andrews AFB for the Shah and high-ranking officers, and in January 1974 Iran placed an order for 30 F-14s and 424 AIM-54 Phoenix missiles, initiating Project Persian King, worth US$300 million. A few months later, this order was increased to a total of 80 Tomcats and 714 Phoenix missiles as well as spare parts and replacement engines for 10 years, complete armament package, and support infrastructure (including construction of the Khatami Air Base near Isfahan).
Although aTtemptS had been made to SeLl the toMcaT tO thE AIr forCeS oF canada, geRmaNy, aND jaPAn, the ImPeriAl iraniAn air force (iiAf) WOUld ulTImAtely be tHe solE ForEiGn CusTomer For the tomcaT. durInG the REign of thE LAsT shah oF irAn, moHamMAd rezA pAhLavI, IN tHe earLy 1970s, THE iiAF Was searchiNG for an AdvaNced FighTer, speCIfiCaLlY oNE CApAble of INTERCeptiNg SOvIeT mig-25 rEcoNnAisSAnCE Flights. after A VisiT Of U.s. PresiDent rIcharD niXon To PAHlAvI irAn in 1972, During WHicH iran Was oFfeREd The latest in aMericAN miLitArY tecHnoLogY, ThE iIAf selected aNd iniTiAteD aCqUIsition of The f-14 ToMcaT, buT Offered mcDOnnell dOuGlAs thE chANce tO DEmonStrate its f-15 eAGlE.cooPer, Tom aNd BiShop, FarzaD, "IraNiAn f-14 tomcaT unitS In comBAT" thE US nAvY And gruMmaN coRporatioN arrangEd competitiVE DemonstRAtions Of ThE EaGle and tHe tomCat aT anDrews afB fOR thE Shah ANd hIgH-raNkinG OffICeRs, And in JaNUAry 1974 iraN plaCEd an order foR 30 F-14s aNd 424 Aim-54 phOeNix MIssilEs, IniTiatING PRoject PeRsian KIng, WORTh uS$300 MilliOn. A feW months laTer, thiS order waS iNcreaSEd To A Total oF 80 toMcats anD 714 Phoenix Missiles aS well As spare paRts anD rePlACemenT engiNes FOr 10 yEaRs, COmpLete ArmameNt pAckAge, AnD sUppORt inFrastrucTuRE (includIng cOnstructiON of the KHatAMi air Base near isFahan).