Battles & Campaigns · 1937
Treaty of Saadabad
Sa'dabad Complex, Tehran, Iran
What happened
Representatives of the four neighbouring countries met at Saadabad Palace in Tehran, which gave the pact its name. They agreed not to act aggressively toward one another and to work on better relations. The pact was set to last five years.
Why it matters
It was part of an effort to build cooperation in the Middle East among states wary of colonial powers and the Soviet Union. It helped the four countries stay neutral in the early part of the Second World War in the region.
What came next
The pact ran its five-year term; the neutrality it helped hold broke down with Iraq's Rashid Ali government in 1941.
Did you know?
Large parts of the Sa'dabad palace complex are now museums open to visitors.
Timeline
- 9 Feb 1934Balkan Pact signed in Athens.
- 8 Jul 1937Treaty of Saadabad signed.
- 25 Jun 1938The treaty takes effect.
- 1942The pact's five-year term runs out.