Salva-Iran crisis

From left to right: Salvanian soldiers in a training base, Salvanian desert artillery, A small Iranian outpost near the border, Salvanian soldier carries ammunition to truck, Outside of Tukaij

### Result

• Tukaij destroyed• Mass riots across Salva and Iran

• 2003 conflict

• Diplomatic ties cut

• Ongoing

## Belligerents

 Republic of Salva

 United States of America

vs

 Iranian State

## Strength

 Republic of Salva: 306,000

 United States of America: 13,050

vs

 Iranian State: 285,000

## Casualties and losses

 Republic of Salva: 13,715

 United States of America: 350

 Iranian State: 15,615~

Contains fictional materialThis article is fully fictional and none of this should be taken seriously.
The Salva-Iran crisis is an ongoing crisis in the Caspian region between Salva and its allies and the Iranian State. The conflict has been going on for decades, but it was only recently that the two sides began to engage in conflict. The crisis started in 1991 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, when Salva was handed over to Iran. The Salvanian people were very unhappy with Iranian occupation, and protests sparked across the region as a result. A stalemate occurred until 1995, when riots sparked after calls for independence were rejected by the government despite having a majority voting for Salva to become independent. The crisis reached a peak in 2003 when the two sides engaged in conflict in the 2003 conflict.

As of 2020 the crisis is ongoing as the two sides have yet to reach any sort of agreement. Salva has increased military presence near the border regions, while Iran has reportedly stationed troops inside the country and moved parts of the armed forces to the border regions. This has resulted in skirmishes between the two countries, with the crisis reaching the highest level of tensions since 2003. Salva, under the Neutrality Act of Salva, cannot declare war on offensive, and must be attacked before any military action can be used. The crisis has worsened significantly in the previous years, and post-independence Salva faces a high risk of invasion from her large neighbor to the south. Salvanian president Mirzÿ Amirbeyzov has publicly stated that Salva is prepared for war and will use any means necessary to defend the nation and its borders, regardless of the consequences and despite the fact that the Mashhad Agreement, which states that the two countries will not engage in offensive military actions against one another, is still in effect. Amirbeyzov claims that the Mashhad Agreement will never be violated on Salvanian terms, and that if the agreement is broken he is fully prepared to defend the nation. He has recently stated that he will not allow Salva to be "contaminated" by possible invasion. The crisis has had a major effect on the region, causing mass migration and destabilization.

The world community has, as usual, been divided on how to handle the issue. In support of Salva is the United States and a majority of NATO and the EU, including all of the member states of the CUF. Russia has expressed support for Iran, along with China, North Korea, and several other nations. The Mingecevir Summit is held yearly in Salva to discuss diplomacy, to which in 2019 Iran refused to attend. Amirbeyzov has called the situation "concerning", and that "diplomacy must be used as a number one priority over military strength". He has expressed a willingness to re-establish the Mingecevir Summit in 2021 if he wins re-election, as it was delayed in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic and to find diplomatic solutions to the problems with Iran. Iran has consistently rejected the idea of diplomatic solutions and has threatened to attack Salva. The United States has frequently sided with Salva, stationing troops and offering assistance to Salva in case of an attack. In July 2016, the United States offered to mediate the conflict between Salva and Iran. Salva accepted to hold peace talks, however Iran refused to negotiate while it still has "swords pointed at its head".

In May 2018, the United States sent a peacekeeping force to Salva in order to ease tensions and help maintain order there following riots that broke out in the nation after the passing of the Neutrality Act of Salva.

## 2003 conflict

The 2003 conflict was a border conflict between Salva and Iran that resulted in around a total of 6,700 deaths. The conflict started when Iranian soldiers shot and killed three Salvanian hikers, to which both governments got in a dispute over the event. This would later lead up to the Siege of Tukaij, the most dangerous time in Salvanain history. In the end, Salva won the war due to superior numbers and tactics. However, this did not mean that they were happy with their victory. Salva formally cut diplomatic ties with the Iranian State for 2 years following the war.

The most known battle was the Siege of Tukaij, a deadly battle that caused more than half of the conflict's total death count. It happened in the village of Tukaij, where the entire town was completely burned to the ground. The estimated death count from Tukaij is at 4,215, of which 1,020 were civilians. The reasons behind the high death count is still unknown, although it is believed that the use of poison gas was involved. The Salvanian government is believed to be conducting a secret investigation over the event, after multiple groups of NSC guards were seen collecting soil samples in the village. It is unknown when the results of the investigation will be made public. After being questioned about it, NSC director Mikhail Garakhanov said that he "cannot confirm nor deny" the investigation. He then proceeded to say that the NSC is not in the habit of commenting on investigations, and that it is best if one should leave such matters to the President themselves. A few years after the Tukaij incident, Salvanian soldiers were sighted patrolling the southern border with Iran. The Salvanian Government has issued a non essential travel warning for the region, stating that the situation remains tense in 2020 and that people should stay away from the border. The conflict was officially declared over in early 2004 after an agreement was reached, although skirmishes broke out in some areas until 2007.

## Siege of Tukaij

The Siege of Tukaij was a deadly battle that took place in the village of Tukaij on September 17th, 2003, to October 9th, 2003. It was the deadliest battle in the 2003 conflict.

The conflict broke out when three hikers that were from Salva were shot and killed by Iranian soldiers, being mistaken for intruders. The borders between the two were quickly fortified and the 2003 conflict was underway. The Salvanian government condemned the actions, calling it "unacceptable" and "outrageous" and saying that it would not be forgotten. A day later, mass pro-Salva protests broke out condemning Iranian leader Hamidreza Bahadori for "foolishly" starting a war that Salva would inevitably win. The protests were peaceful, but the tensions remained high. The protests spread quickly through both Salva and Iran, with Salvanian groups in northern Iran rebelling against the government. Hamidreza Bahadori's government tried to quell the situation by force, but the use of deadly force and mass arrests only increased tensions, which were further heightened after the unexpected border invasion of Tukaij, a small village on the Salvanian-controlled side of the border, by Iranian soldiers. The cause for the attack remains unknown, but it has been documented as the deadliest battle in Salvanian history. (Right, outside of Tukaij in 2020.)

Tukaij was completely burned to the ground, with the only survivors being a group of soldiers and an elderly mother and her daughter who hid in a small house with several other families. The daughter gave a full and horrifying account of the attack.

She stated *"It was like the world was ending, everything was burning, smoke filled the air, everything was red. Then suddenly, we were running for dear life through muddy fields. We kept running until we found ourselves in a small village, where we hid in a small house. It was there that we remained for five days, surrounded by death. Soldiers would come through the village searching for us, killing everyone in their path. On the fifth day, a soldier finally came to our house. I remembered being terrified, but it was a Salvanian soldier searching for survivors. I will forever be in his debt, as will my entire family."*

Tukaij remains a no-travel zone to this day, officially being off limits under order by the government. Attempts to enter the village by the media or others is prevented, as are all attempts to gather any information on the event.