In the early 1970s, the Imperial Iranian Air Force - as it was then known - sought to procure new fighters to combat potential threats, particularly that posed by the new MiG-25. The new MiG’s capability was largely a mystery to the west, and Iran needed a strong deterrent for it’s northern border regions. Two options were on the table; the F-15 Eagle, and the F-14 Tomcat. After demonstrations of both aircraft in the US, for the Shah and his officials, Iran chose the F-14A to be its new front-line fighter.