Back to All Events

Book Club - Iran’s Grand Strategy: A Political History

Iran’s Grand Strategy: A Political History

By Vali Nasr

Iran presents one of the most consequential foreign policy challenges facing the United States and the West. Yet its goals and motivations are often reduced to revolutionary ideology and religious doctrine. In Iran’s Grand Strategy, New York Times bestselling author Vali Nasr offers a more complex explanation of the forces shaping Iran’s actions at home and abroad.

Nasr argues that, behind the veneer of theocracy, Iran is pursuing a strategy focused on preserving internal stability, resisting external threats and asserting its place in the Middle East and the wider world. He traces the roots of this outlook through four decades of conflict and confrontation, including the Iran-Iraq War, American efforts to contain Iran and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Drawing on memoirs, oral histories and original interviews with Iranian decision makers, Nasr examines how these experiences fostered a deep fear of American intentions in the region. His account provides new insight into Iran’s resistance to the United States, nuclear ambitions and use of allies and proxies across the Middle East.


Join us each month to discuss a pre-selected book presenting a foreign policy topic. First Wednesday of each month (12pm).

We are proud to partner with the Loudoun County Public Library who makes available multiple copies of this book for checkout at the Rust Library.

Previous
Previous
September 18

Ethical Leadership Conference: Free for High Schoolers September 2026

Next
Next
October 15

Foreign Policy Forum - Discussion with Dr. Michael McDonald