United States Ambassador to Iran

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Prior to 1944, the United States did not consider Persia important enough to be served by a full ambassador. Instead, a lower-ranking Diplomatic minister was sent instead. The United States terminated diplomatic relations with Iran in 1980. No subsequent ambassadors have been appointed.

[edit] List of Ambassdors

This is a list of United States ambassadors and other heads of diplomatic missions to Persia and Iran.

[edit] Persia

  • Henry H. Jessup - nominated for Chargé d'Affaires but withdrawn before approval
  • S.G.W. Benjamin (1883 - 1885) - first Chargé d'Affaires, but promoted to Minister Resident almost immediately
  • Bayless W. Hanna (1885) - Minister Resident - took oath of office but did not go to Persia
  • Frederick H. Winston (1885 - 1886) - Minister Resident
  • E. Spencer Pratt (1886 - 1891) - Minister Resident
  • Truxtun Beale (1891 - 1892) - Minister Resident
  • Watson R. Sperry (1892 - 1893) - Minister Resident
  • Alexander McDonald (1893 - 1897) - Minister Plenipotentiary, later Minister Resident
  • Arthur S. Hardy (1897 - 1899) - Minister Resident
  • William P. Lord (1899) - would have been Minister Resident, but declined appointment
  • Herbert W. Bowen (1899 - 1901) - Minister Resident
  • Lloyd C. Griscom (1901 - 1902) - Minister Plenipotentiary
  • Richmond Pearson (1902 - 1907) - Minister Plenipotentiary
  • John B. Jackson (1907 - 1909) - Minister Plenipotentiary
  • Charles W. Russell (1909 - 1914) - Minister Plenipotentiary
  • John L. Caldwell (1914 - 1921) - Minister Plenipotentiary
  • Joseph Saul Kornfeld (1921 - 1924) - Minister Plenipotentiary
  • Hoffman Philip (1925 - 1928) - Minister Plenipotentiary
  • Charles C. Hart (1929 - 1933) - Minister Plenipotentiary, last envoy to Persia

[edit] Iran

  • William H. Hornibrook (1934 - 1936) - Minister Plenipotentiary
  • Gordon P. Merria (1936 - 1937) - Chargé d'Affaires
  • Cornelius Van H. Engert (1937 - 1940) - Chargé d'Affaires
  • Louis G. Dreyfus, Jr. (1940 - 1943) - Minister Plenipotentiary
  • Leland B. Morris (1944 - 1945) - First ambassador
  • Wallace Murray (1945 - 1946)
  • George V. Allen (1946 - 1948)
  • John C. Wiley (1948 - 1950)
  • Henry F. Grady (1950 - 1951)
  • Loy W. Henderson (1951 - 1954)
  • Julius C. Holmes - nominated, but nomination withdrawn before approved
  • Selden Chapin (1955 - 1958)
  • Edward T. Wailes (1958 - 1961)
  • Julius C. Holmes (1961 - 1965)
  • Armin H. Meyer (1965 - 1969)
  • Douglas MacArthur II (1969 - 1972)
  • Joseph S. Farland (1972 - 1973)
  • Richard Helms (1973 - 1977)
  • William H. Sullivan (1977 - 1979)
  • Walter L. Cutler - nominated, but rejected by Iran
  • Bruce Laingen (1979) - Chargé d'Affaires, seized with the embassy on November 4, 1979 . He was later released.