#43 - Ambassador John Limbert (Part 1)

"For lust of knowing what should not be known, We make the golden journey to Samarkand." - James Elroy Flecker

Throughout his life, Ambassador John Limbert kept returning to Iran. As a student, as a Peace Corps volunteer, as a husband. He could not seem to stay away. But then, as a U.S. diplomat in Tehran — for a harrowing 444 days — he could not leave. This episode takes us to the verge of the Iran hostage crisis. For all his knowledge and experience, including later serving as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, his is a voice we should be listening to.

John Limbert's 34-year career in the U.S. foreign service was mostly spent in the Middle East and Islamic Africa, where he also served as the U.S. Ambassador to Mauritania. In 2009-2010, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in Near Eastern (or Iranian) Affairs. He was among the last American diplomats to serve in Tehran, where he was taken captive in 1979. Following his diplomatic career, until 2018, he was the Class of 1955 Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at the U.S. Naval Academy. He holds the Department of State's highest award--the Distinguished Service Award--and other Department awards, including the Award of Valor, which he received after 14 months as a hostage in Iran.

Ambassador Limbert holds his Ph.D. from Harvard University in history and Middle Eastern studies. Before joining the foreign service, he taught in Iran as a Peace Corps volunteer in Iranian Kurdistan and as an instructor at Shiraz University. He has written numerous articles and books on Middle Eastern subjects. He also co-authored (with Ambassador Marc Grossman) the espionage novel Believers: Love and Death in Tehran.

Ambassador Limbert in 2009, as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State to Iran

As a Peace Corps volunteer (center) with roommate Ed Cato and teacher colleagues, celebrating Assyrian Easter in 1965

John with his wife Parvaneh, in 1966

John was held as a hostage for 444 days, from 1979-1981

The Believers (link above)

Note: Special thanks to Ben East for his assistance with this episode. His terrific book, Profiles in Service: Peace Corps Roots in American Diplomacy, features more on Ambassador Limbert's remarkable career.

SHOW CREDITS

SP/FS Producer & Host: Christopher Wurst

Opening Voices: Dmitri Wurst, Elena Wurst, Kjara Wurst, Christopher Wurst

Cold Open Music: BWM – The Brina Band

Episode Music:

Passing Towns, Passing Time – Miles Johanson

Shift of Currents – Blue Dot Sessions

Our Quiet Company – Blue Dot Sessions

A Perceptible Shift – Andy G. Cohen

Cast in Wicker – Blue Dot Sessions

An Accumulation – Blue Dot Sessions

Interview date: April 28, 2026