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Iranian Wheat Scientist to Attend World Food Prize Symposium in Des Moines

Government officials in Iran are sending one of their top food scientists to the World Food Prize Symposium in Des Moines next week. 

Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, who became the first U.S. Ambassador to speak at a government-sponsored conference in Iran, invited the scientist after a trip to Tehran two months ago. He says he secured a visa for the scientist Wednesday.

Since there is no place for in Iran to apply for a visa to travel to the United States; Iranians must go to Dubai to obtain a visa. Quinn says he worried the visa wouldn’t come through in time for the symposium, because it often takes four to six months just to get an appointment at the U.S. Embassy for a visa interview.

During this River to River interview, host Ben Kieffer talks with Quinn about his trip to Iran and about this year’s World Food Prize symposium. 

Ben Kieffer is the host of IPR's River to River
Lindsey Moon is IPR's Senior Digital Producer