About this Book

Since Iran s 1979 revolution, the West has struggled to understand what drives the Islamic Republic and how to deal with it. The challenge now looms even larger in the face of Iran s controversial nuclear program, disputed 2009 election, growing human rights violations, and angry rhetoric. Difficult to engage yet impossible to ignore, Iran presents the world s most complex foreign policy dilemma. "The Iran Primer" offers a comprehensive but concise overview of Iran s politics, economy, military, foreign policy, and nuclear program. It chronicles U.S.-Iran relations under six American presidents and probes five options for dealing with Iran. Organized thematically, this book provides top-level briefings by 50 top experts on Iran (both Iranian and Western authors) as well as a handful of rising talent. It provides hard factual information for ready reference, thoughtful analysis, and context. "The Iran Primer" is a practical and accessible go-to resource for practitioners, policymakers, academics, and students, as well as a fascinating wealth of information for anyone interested in understanding Iran s pivotal role in world politics.This volume is a joint product of the United States Institute of Peace and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

Robin Wright, editor of, "The Iran Primer: Power, Politics, and U.S. Policy" discusses the new volume and online resource, and presents a fascinating wealth of information for anyone interested in understanding Iran's pivotal role in world politics."