“Rich Fields in Persia”: Parsi Capital and the Origins of Economic Development in Pahlavi Iran, 1925–1941

Abstract This article investigates the history of economic relations between Iran and Parsi community India during Reza Shah period. Encouraged by policies new Pahlavi state, entrepreneurs began a serious effort to investigate possibilities investment in Iran. The details three missions that were conducted this period, analyzes their assessments Iran's potential for development fields such as energy, textile manufacturing, commercial agriculture, modern transportation systems. As argues, while these Parsi-led initiatives part larger renewed engagement Parsis Iranians, variety political reasons, outbreak World War II few plans had come fruition. While remaining largely forestalled interwar also suggests foreshadowed many planning strategies carried out post–World development.