The Motheral Report and land reform in Iran, 1952-1963

In 1957, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi commissioned US agricultural economist Joseph R. Motheral to study Iran’s land tenure system and propose reforms. The resulting Motheral Report laid the foundation for later land redistribution programs, which sought to address, through rural development, the issue of political instability. The report drew upon the Shah’s pre-existing objectives and efforts to advocate for US support in implementing large-scale land reform, including financial assistance and technical training, and outlined a five-year timeline for redistribution. While the report failed to spur immediate action, its key points shaped subsequent efforts by both the US and Iranian governments, including Prime Minister Ali Amini’s land reform efforts in 1961 and the Shah’s White Revolution in 1963