Group dinner at Karaj College

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Though the Department of State chose universities from Utah to go to Iran due to their similar climates, USU had established a relationship with Iran long before that decision was made. 

USU president John Widtsoe and Mirza Ali Gholi Khan, Iranian Consul General, had met in 1912 and become friends. This led to the first Iranian exchange students at USU, and by the end of WWII, Iranians accounted for 20 percent of international enrollment at USU. The enrollment of Iranian students at USU remained high until the Iranian Revolution of 1979 halted the once strong association.

One of these first students was Ardeshir Zahedi, who later became the principal assistant and translator for the first Point Four director in Iran. 

Roskelley family travel permit: [Click image to enlarge]

(MSS 284, Box 26, Folder 2)

USU Extension Team members in Iran

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Due to this established relationship, several USU faculty members had previous experience with Iran and their agricultural practices before Point Four was initiated. Franklin Harris (former president of USU) had previously reorganized Iran’s ministry of agriculture in 1939, and Luther Windsor served as director of general irrigation from 1941 to 1946. They served as advisors during the initial Point Four planning and started moving other USU faculty in 1951. This proved difficult, as many faculty members who were assigned to the program had large families that had to be moved to Iran with them.