The richness of the historical and cultural heritage of Iran--its ancient civilizations, the religions it has produced, the marvels of its literary and artistic creations, its historical continuity and independence--present special opportunities for research. It was to contribute to a realization of these opportunities that the American Institute of Iranian Studies (AIIrS) was founded in 1967. Although the Tehran office was closed for two decades from 1979 for political reasons, Institute officials continued to promote scholarship dealing with advanced research on the history, language, art, and archaeology of Iran.

AIIrS was perhaps the first American institution to re-establish exchanges with Iran as relations warmed in the late 1990s. AIIrS currently sponsors a fellowship program in Iran for graduate Persian language students at the Dehkhoda Institute, for senior scholars pursuing research, and for a six-month junior research fellow who also acts as the AIIrS liaison in Tehran between American fellows and the relevant Iranian authorities. In addition, funds are available for one pre-doctoral fellowship for research in Iran. Moreover, each year, the Lois Roth Persian Translation Prize is awarded by AIIrS for the best translation of a text from Persian to English. The AIIrS is currently undertaking a bibliographical project to aid scholars in identifying important archives and other academic resources in Iran for research.

As AIIrS is able to prepare more American students and scholars to generate knowledge through field experience in Iran, American universities are able to expand Persian studies, an academic field that had diminished significantly during the twenty years Americans were unable to travel to Iran. Twenty American universities, colleges, and museums currently hold memberships in AIIrS.