Book of the week: THE LONG WAR ON IRAN
Posted by Al-Monitor on March 16, 2026
"For anyone wishing to dive deeper into the current conflict and how US-Iran relations reached their present impasse, this book is a compelling place to start. Behrooz Ghamari traces how the United States and Iran have been locked in a decades-long standoff fueled by misunderstandings, missteps and clashing ambitions. The author, a leading expert on Iran, seeks to clarify the dynamics driving a conflict that is now devastating the Middle East and reverberating far beyond the region. The book examines the history of US intervention in the Middle East, focusing in particular on the continuing sanctions imposed on Iran and Washington’s persistent view of the Islamic Republic as a major obstacle to American power. At the same time, Ghamari shows how, despite the regime’s repressive policies, Iranian society has remained vibrant and resilient, with artists, intellectuals and social justice movements continuing to shape the country’s cultural life."