Prior to 1944, Iran was not served by a United States ambassador; instead, a diplomatic minister was sent. The first ambassador was named in 1944.
After the Iran hostage crisis in 1979, the United States terminated diplomatic relations with the Iranian government, therefore no ambassadors have since been appointed. The United States government has since then been represented in Iran by the United States Interests Section of the Embassy of Switzerland in Tehran.
Ambassadors This is a list of United States ambassadors and other heads of diplomatic missions to Iran.
Iran Henry Harris Jessup - nominated for Chargé d'Affaires but withdrawn before approval Samuel G. W. Benjamin (1883–1885) - first Chargé d'Affaires, but promoted to Minister Resident almost immediately Bayless W. Hanna (1885) -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 Brinkerhoff Jackson (1907–1909) - Minister Plenipotentiary Charles Wells Russell Jr. (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 accredited to "Persia" William H. Hornibrook (1934–1936) - Minister Plenipotentiary Gordon P. Merriam (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Wiley (1948–1950) Henry F. Grady (1950–1951) Loy W. Henderson (1951–1954) Julius C. Holmes - nominated, but nomination withdrawn before approved Selden Chapin (1955–1958) Edward T. Wailes (1958–1961) Julius C. Holmes (1961–1965) Armin H. Meyer (1965–1969) Douglas MacArthur II (1969–1972)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 (1979–1980) - Chargé d'Affaires, seized with the embassy on November 4, 1979. He was later released.
See also Embassy of the United States, Tehran Iran–United States relations Foreign relations of Iran Ambassadors of the United States American School in Tehran
References
United States Department of State: Background notes on Iran
External links United States Department of State: Chiefs of Mission for Iran United States Department of State: Iran