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Although she did not hold an official position after her time in the embassy in Tehran during the war, British and Iranian ministers and officials frequently sought her advice on Persian affairs. In 1946, during the Azerbaijan crisis, when the Soviet Union at first refused to evacuate Persian Azerbaijan, she once acted as an informal ambassador between the Iranian and British governments. She was consulted by British officials on developments in Irano-British relations, especially during the crisis in 1951 when Iran’s Prime Minister, Muhammad Mussadiq, caused a furore by nationalising British oil interests in Iran. The Shah, in a power struggle with Mussadiq, fled to Rome in 1953. In August that year the CIA orchestrated a coup that toppled Mussadiq and restored the Shah and Western oil interests.

The Shah was probably aware that Lambton had never had a high opinion of him, but Lambton’s criticism of the White Revolution, wrote Parviz Raji in 1978 in his book In the Service of the Peacock Throne, “brought upon herself the Shah’s permanent displeasure”. “No Iranian ambassador who consorted with her could ever be sure of retaining his post for long,” he said.

If she was out of sympathy with the Shah, Lambton had no love either for the Islamic Revolution and did not visit Iran after it. She nevertheless continued to write about Iranian history.

In retirement she moved from London to Northumberland, a county with which the Lambton family had close connections. She was active in her Anglican church, she became a lay preacher and took a particular interest in the history of Christianity in Northumberland. She received the Cross of St Augustine from the Archbishop of Canterbury in November 2004. The award was made in acknowledgement of her work for, and commitment to, Christianity and the Church of England in particular.

Times Archive, 1941: Iran under Reza Shah

Security risked for national prestige by playing off Germany against the Allies

• Germans In Iran

• Oriental Studies

Formerly chairman of the Iran Diocesan Association, she served on the Middle East committee and advised archbishops on interfaith matters. She was reader emeritus in the Diocese of Newcastle, was still giving lectures at an advanced age and had delivered Lent lectures biannually to clergy and laity for many years. At 93 she was still preaching regularly in her local church.

Lambton appeared to be severe and difficult to get to know. She rarely spoke about herself and she could also be rather frightening, especially to her students. But once past the initial barriers of reserve, they found a kind and generous person. She was hospitable and always ready to try to help those around her who needed it, whether in Britain or Iran. She was modest and never sought attention for her personal experiences and exploits nor, which is a pity, did she ever publish anything about them. She was a great traveller and a great scholar. She did not marry.

Professor Ann Lambton, OBE, expert on Iran, was born on February 8, 1912. She died on July 19, 2008, aged 96