USU Extension Team with Iranian students by a combine harvester

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Though the program’s progress was temporarily stunted, those running it nevertheless pressed on with their goal. The late 50s was dedicated to “integration,” or the process of turning the administrative efforts over to the Iranians. Suffering from lack of funds, ignorance of Iranian culture, and resentment from the native population, the well-intentioned USU employees were ill-equipped, and the Point Four project faltered greatly in its final years. USU’s contract with Karaj College ended in 1964, and the technical assistant advisors left that summer.

Though the foreign aid program in Iran ultimately failed, USU continued to foster a relationship with Iranian foreign exchange students until the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and subsequent corrosion of U.S.-Iran relations.