Historic World War II meeting in Tehran between Allied leaders Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill that shaped military strategy and post-war world order through crucial agreements including D-Day planning.

The Tehran Conference stands as one of World War II's most pivotal diplomatic meetings bringing together the "Big Three" Allied leaders - Franklin D. Roosevelt Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill. This historic summit took place from November 28 to December 1 1943 marking the first time these powerful figures met face-to-face.

Set against the backdrop of the Iranian capital the conference proved crucial in shaping the Allied strategy for victory over Nazi Germany. The leaders gathered at the Soviet Embassy in Tehran to discuss critical matters including the opening of a second front in Western Europe and the post-war reorganization of Europe and Asia. This momentous meeting would later influence major military operations like Operation Overlord and set the stage for future Allied conferences at Yalta and Potsdam.

The Tehran Conference spanned four days of intensive diplomatic discussions between the Allied leaders. The meeting established critical military strategies through detailed planning sessions protocols.

Allied preparations for the conference started on November 26, 1943, with Roosevelt arriving at Tehran Airport. Stalin landed in Tehran on November 27, while Churchill reached the city on November 28. The official conference proceedings commenced with the first plenary session at 4:00 PM on November 28, 1943, at the Soviet Embassy.

Date	Event
Nov 26, 1943	Roosevelt's arrival in Tehran
Nov 27, 1943	Stalin's arrival in Tehran
Nov 28, 1943	Churchill's arrival & first plenary session
Nov 28-Dec 1, 1943	Conference sessions
Dec 1, 1943	Signing of Tehran Declaration

The Tehran Conference lasted 4 days from November 28 to December 1, 1943. The leaders participated in 7 plenary sessions including morning bilateral meetings between Roosevelt-Stalin Churchill-Stalin. Each formal session averaged 3-4 hours with additional informal discussions occurring during shared meals social gatherings at the Soviet Embassy. The conference concluded at 7:45 PM on December 1 with the signing of the Tehran Declaration.

Session Type	Number of Meetings	Average Duration
Plenary Sessions	7	3-4 hours
Bilateral Meetings	12	1-2 hours
Social Gatherings	4	2-3 hours

The Tehran Conference took place in Iran's capital city at two diplomatic compounds located within a secure three-mile area. The strategic location provided protection from potential German intelligence operations while facilitating confidential discussions among the Allied leaders.

The Soviet Embassy served as the primary conference venue, hosting the majority of plenary sessions in its main conference room. Stalin occupied the embassy's residential quarters while Roosevelt stayed in a diplomatic residence across the street, connected to the main building by a covered walkway. The embassy complex included:

• A dedicated communications center with direct lines to Moscow
• Multiple meeting rooms equipped with translation services
• Separate dining facilities for formal state dinners
• Enhanced security checkpoints with NKVD personnel
• Soundproofed conference chambers for sensitive discussions

The embassy's layout featured:

Area	Purpose	Security Level
Main Building	Plenary Sessions	Maximum
West Wing	Staff Offices	High
East Wing	Communications	Maximum
South Wing	Residential	Maximum

The Soviet diplomatic compound underwent extensive renovations before the conference, including:

• Installation of bulletproof windows
• Addition of anti-aircraft positions
• Construction of underground bunkers
• Implementation of advanced surveillance systems
• Establishment of secure perimeter fencing

This Soviet Embassy location at Sadabad Palace complex provided ideal conditions for the high-level diplomatic meetings while maintaining strict security protocols.

The Tehran Conference assembled three of history's most influential leaders during World War II, marking their first face-to-face meeting. These leaders represented the primary Allied powers fighting against Nazi Germany and its Axis partners.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt led the United States delegation, bringing substantial economic resources and military might to the Allied cause. Prime Minister Winston Churchill represented the British Empire, which had been at war since 1939. Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin attended as the leader of the USSR, whose Red Army was engaging the majority of German forces on the Eastern Front.

• Franklin D. Roosevelt

• Position: 32nd President of the United States

• Age during conference: 61 years old

• Military forces: 12 million active personnel

• Economic contribution: $341 billion in war expenditure

• Winston Churchill

• Position: Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

• Age during conference: 69 years old

• Military forces: 8.7 million Commonwealth forces

• Colonial territories: 45+ colonies and territories

• Joseph Stalin

• Position: Premier of the Soviet Union

• Age during conference: 64 years old

• Military forces: 34 million active personnel

• Territory under control: 8.65 million square miles

Leader	Country	Military Personnel	War Production (1943)
Roosevelt	USA	12 million	$138 billion
Churchill	UK	8.7 million	£28 billion
Stalin	USSR	34 million	8,500 tanks/month

The Tehran Conference produced several crucial military agreements that shaped the final phases of World War II. The leaders established specific strategic objectives through formal documents signed on December 1, 1943.

The Allied leaders finalized plans for Operation Overlord, scheduling the Normandy invasion for May 1944. Stalin pledged to launch a simultaneous offensive on the Eastern Front, Operation Bagration, to prevent German forces from reinforcing their positions in France. The conference established General Dwight D. Eisenhower as the Supreme Allied Commander for the operation, coordinating a force of 156,000 troops across five landing beaches.

Stalin committed the Soviet Union to enter the war against Japan within three months after Germany's defeat. This agreement included specific conditions:

• Soviet retention of southern Sakhalin Island
• Control of the Kuril Islands
• Access to warm-water ports in the Pacific
• Maintenance of Mongolia's independence from China
• Joint operation of the Chinese Eastern and South Manchurian railways

Soviet War Entry Terms	Details
Timeline	Within 3 months of German defeat
Territorial Gains	Southern Sakhalin, Kuril Islands
Strategic Assets	Warm-water ports, Railway access
Required Recognition	Mongolian independence
Military Deployment	1.5 million troops pledged

The Tehran Conference established crucial military strategies that shaped World War II's outcome. Operation Overlord's success stemmed directly from the coordinated planning at Tehran, resulting in the deployment of 156,000 Allied troops on D-Day. The synchronized Eastern Front offensive, Operation Bagration, tied down 28 German divisions, preventing their redeployment to Normandy.

• Secured Soviet commitment for a coordinated offensive against Nazi Germany
• Established Operation Overlord as the primary Western Front strategy
• Created unified command structure under General Eisenhower
• Synchronized timing of major Allied operations

• Formalized the first face-to-face meeting between Stalin, Roosevelt & Churchill
• Strengthened Allied cooperation through personal diplomacy
• Established protocols for future wartime conferences
• Created framework for post-war territorial arrangements

The conference's decisions influenced post-war geopolitics significantly:

Impact Area	Outcome
Eastern Europe	Soviet influence expanded
Germany	Post-war division established
Pacific Theater	Soviet entry timeline set
Iran	Emerged as strategic ally

• Developed blueprint for United Nations organization
• Established zones of influence in post-war Europe
• Created foundation for Allied occupation policies
• Set parameters for unconditional German surrender

The Tehran Conference's agreements fundamentally altered the power dynamics in Europe & Asia. The Soviet Union's enhanced role in defeating Japan led to its occupation of territories negotiated at Tehran, including southern Sakhalin & the Kuril Islands. These territorial changes remain relevant in modern diplomatic relations between Russia & Japan.

• The Tehran Conference took place from November 28 to December 1, 1943, marking the first face-to-face meeting between Allied leaders Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill.
• The conference was held at the Soviet Embassy in Tehran, Iran, featuring extensive security measures and diplomatic arrangements to ensure confidential discussions.
• During 4 days, leaders participated in 7 plenary sessions and multiple bilateral meetings, culminating in the signing of the Tehran Declaration.
• Key decisions included finalizing plans for Operation Overlord (D-Day invasion), securing Soviet commitment to enter the war against Japan, and establishing coordinated military strategies.
• The conference significantly influenced World War II's outcome and post-war geopolitics, leading to the establishment of Allied occupation zones and shaping modern diplomatic relations.

The Tehran Conference of November 28 to December 1 1943 stands as one of World War II's most pivotal diplomatic gatherings. The historic meeting between Roosevelt Stalin and Churchill established crucial military strategies that would ultimately lead to Nazi Germany's defeat.

The decisions made during those four days in Tehran shaped not only the immediate conduct of the war but also the post-war global order. From Operation Overlord to Soviet participation in the Pacific Theater the conference's impact extended far beyond its brief duration.

Today the Tehran Conference serves as a testament to the power of diplomatic cooperation in times of global crisis. Its legacy continues to influence international relations demonstrating how decisions made by three leaders in Iran's capital helped reshape the modern world.