Agha Piri

Agha Piri was one of the wealthiest Armenian merchants of Iran. In 1673 he converted to Islam and took the name Mohammad Piri after the conversion. As the kalantar of New Julfa he was the chief administrator of the internal and overall economic affairs, and served as liaison between the royal court or the Safavid state and his community. He was also responsible for the timely collection and transfer of taxes to the royal houshold.

At the end of 17th century, when the economy of New Julfa was already on decline, it is estimated that his fortune was around two million livres tournois. He is regarded as one of the twenty richest merchants of Iran.