Immediately prior to the outbreak of the Anglo-Iraqi War, "Lawrence" helped to cover the landing of the 20th Indian Infantry Brigade at Basra on 18 April 1941. When Britain and the Soviet Union invaded Iran in August 1941, "Lawrence" took part in the attack on Abadan on 25 August 1941, boarding and capturing the Iranian gunboats "Karkas" and "Shahbaaz" and two Italian merchant ships.