An Iranian politician. Jafar was among the first generation of Iranians to study abroad and imbibe the Western values, which were deemed to form modernisation and industrial development in Iran. He committed to the view that Iran should be in alliance with the West. Jafar who was trained as an engineer in Germany and Sweden, worked with Iranian railways in the 1930s. He rapidly moved up the political echelons. He held several important positions, became prime minister in 1978 and introduced many reforms and reconciliation. The Shah dismissed him in November 1978, even though Jafar was very loyal to him, because the political situation in Iran was deteriorating fast. Jafar escaped to New York after the revolution where he remained until his death. Jafar Sharif Emami served his country with commitment and devotion. However, like many monarchists, his focus was on the economy and he lost sight of the importance of civil society and civil liberties until it was too late.