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Dr. Farhang Mehr was the first non-Muslim Iranian to become Deputy Minister and a member of the ministerial cabinet, Acting Minister of Finance, and Deputy Prime Minister. He could not become a minister under the Iran’s constitutional law which preserved the ministerial posts for Muslims only. He was the first non-Muslim to become President of University, Governor for Iran in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the first and only non-Muslim Iranian decorated with first rank Homayoon badge with sash and second rank Tadge badge.

While shouldering heavy responsibilities with his governmental positions, he served as part-time professor at Iran’s Military Academy, Tehran University, National University and the College of Accountancy. He also served on the board of trustees of several universities and colleges. Dr. Farhang Mehr has authored 12 books on law, economics, international relations and Zoroastrianism in both Persian and English and has published over 90 articles on his professional subjects.

Farhang Mehr was born on Ashtad Rooz Azar Mah corresponding to 11th December 1923, in a Zarathushti family in Tehran. His father Mehraban was a self-made man from the province of Kerman, who at the age of 14 migrated to Tehran for greater economic and social opportunities. He went on to become Chief Accountant in Majlis Showraye Melli (parliament.)

Farhang’s mother Paridokht, was a granddaughter of a Zarathushti Yazdi immigrant to Tehran, a man by the name of Khajeh Barkhordar, who served as one of the farm-mangers at the service of Nasseral din Shah Qajar. Both his parents were active in the Zoroastrian community. His father served 50 years in Tehran Zarathushty Anjuman as secretary, treasurer, and vice president. Paridokht was active in Zarathushti women Association. Farhang was raised as a devoted Zarathushti and patriotic Iranian.

Upon graduating from Polytechnic with a degree in mechanical engineering, he joined Tehran University and obtained a bachelor degree from the School of Law, Economics and Political Science. Then he went to England, where he received an L.L.M. from London School of Economics, University of London, and a Ph.D. degree from University of Southampton. In 1975 he was awarded LL.D. (honoris causa) by University of Pennsylvania (USA)

Returning to Tehran in 1957, Dr. Mehr joined the National Iranian Oil Company as head of the Department of International Contracts and Industrial Relations. In this period, he also served as advisor to the Minister of Commerce. Subsequently, at the invitation of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Mehr moved to that ministry where he consecutively held the following positions: Director General of Oil and International Relations, Director General of Economic Affairs and Monopolies, Vice Minister in charge of finance (revenue, treasury) and economic affairs. Then he was nominated by the prime minister to serve as the Minister of Finance. However, since Iran’s constitutional law forbid a non-Muslim to serve as a minister and Dr. Mehr refused to change his religion and convert to Islam, the Prime Minister, Hassan Ali Mansur, created a new position, that of General Deputy Minister, to allow Farhang Mehr to lead the ministry without official title. During this period Prime Minister Mansur was assassinated and replaced by Amir Abbas Hoveida, then the Minister of Finance. After serving as Acting Minister for several months, Farhang Mehr resigned to register his opposition to the relevant discriminatory provision in the constitutional law. Prime Minister Hoveida responded by offering Dr. Mehr, the position of Deputy Prime Minister with all the privileges of a minister except the title. To continue to demonstrate his opposition to the laws affecting non-Muslims after a year of serving in that position Farhang Mehr resigned with publicity. He then assumed the position of Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the largest insurance company in Iran, “Bimeh-ye Iran.” In this position he created a new regulatory agency for insurance, called the Central Insurance Company, the purpose of which was to strengthen private insurance companies and stop the illegal exit of foreign exchange under the cover of reinsurance. He also initiated the insurance pools within the framework of the Regional Corporation for Development (RCD), as well as the College of Insurance for training of insurance staff among Iran, Turkey, and Pakistan. The building of the famous Shah Abbas Hotel in Isfahan was during Dr. Mehr’s presidency in Bimeh-yeh Iran. During this time, he continued to serve as Iranian Governor for OPEC.

Farhang Mehr’s last position in Iran, prior to Islamic Revolution of 1979, was presidency of Pahlavi University in Shiraz. During his presidency, the university became internationally known for its academic excellence and for instituting innovative policies that were later adopted by other developing countries. In 1973, the International Health Organization (WHO) chose Pahlavi University as the center for giving on the job training courses to the faculties of the medical schools the South Mediterranean countries.

In 1981, two years after the establishment of the Revolutionary Islamic Republic of Iran, Farhang Mehr emigrated to the United States. There he joined Boston University as Professor of International Relations. He retired in 1997 as ProfessorEmeritus Farhang Mehr has been very active in the Zartushty Communities world-wide. In his youth he, along with two other Zoroastrians, organized Sazeman Javanan Zarathushty, with the goal of fostering unity and awareness amongst Zarathushty youth, particularly in their struggle to obtain more rights in Iran. The organization or Sazeman grew fast and led to similar affiliated Sazemans in other cities including one for Iranian Zoroastrian Youth in Bombay, India. Farhang Mehr also served as editor of the monthly journal of Sazeman, called ‘Andisheh Ma’ meaning “our thoughts.” Due to financial difficulties and lack of support by the older members of the community, the Sazman turned inactive after two years. Farhang Mehr was elected to Tehran Anjuman Zarathushtian in 1949 as its youngest member. Upon leaving for England in 1950 he joined the Zoroastrian Association of Europe in London and continued to regularly contribute articles to the Zarathushti monthly journal “Hukht” published in Tehran.

On his return to Iran in 1957 Dr Mehr again assumed an active role in the Zarathushty community and was elected Chairman of Tehran Zoroastrian Anjuman, a position he held until the Islamic Revolution of 1979. During his chairmanship, a congress of the representatives of Zarathushti Anjumans of Iran voted, by majority, to accept adults who were not born as Zoroastrians, but who had acquired the religious knowledge, and who knowingly and voluntarily opted to embrace the faith, as Zarathushties. Since that time, over 2500 adults have gone through the process of conversion with caution and tact. Dr. Mehr has attended all World Zoroastrian Congresses since their inception in 1960 in Iran. He is a founder of the World Zoroastrian Organization. Since emigrating to the United States, he has continued his communal activities and served for over 20 years as a Director of the WZO. He has been active in FEZANA (Federation of Zoroastian Associations Greater Boston Area) and ZAGNI (Zoroastrian Association of Greater New York) and has attended and presented papers in their conferences.

Professor Mehr has traveled widely and given lectures in America, Canada, Europe, Australia, Soviet Union and China. In addition to his publications, he has had numerous television and radio interviews in several countries. Farhang Mehr is married to Parichehr Naderi, daughter of Hormozdiar Goshtasp Dinyar of Kerman and has three children Mehrdad, Mehran and Mitra.