In 1921, ARF actions against the Sovietization of Russian Armenia were completely crushed. As a result, some 10,000 ARF party leaders, fighters, intellectuals (and their families) crossed the Iranian border to find shelter there. The direct result of their presence was that the ARF would ensure its predominance over the other Armenian parties active in Iran, and therefore over the complete Armenian community as a whole (which itself was centered around the Armenian Apostolic Church).
