Introduction Chapter One: History Chapter Two: Hostage Crisis Chapter Three: The Decade of War and Consolidation of the Revolution Chapter Four: Pragmatist Assumes Presidency (1989 – 1997) Chapter Five: The Rise of the Reform Movement in Iran (1997-2005) Chapter Six: Sixteen Years of Moderation Comes to End Chapter Seven: Two Views on Major Disputes Chapter Eight: Road Map Bibliography Index
An Iranian diplomatic insider’s account of the failures in the Iran-US relationship, with a roadmap for peace.
Ambassador Seyed Hossein Mousavian, PhD is Associate Research Scholar at the Program on Science and Global Security (SGS) at Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University. He is a former diplomat who served as General Director of Europe in Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Ambassador to Germany, Head of the Foreign Relations Committee of Iran’s National Security Council, as Spokesman for Iran in its nuclear negotiations with the European Union and Foreign Policy Advisor to the Secretary of Iran’s National Security Council. His research focuses on improving Iran-US relations. Shahir Shahidsaless is an Iranian-Canadian political analyst and freelance journalist. He has extensively written analytical pieces surrounding Iranian foreign and domestic politics in general, and Iran-U.S. relations in particular. He received his MA in Geopolitics and Grand Strategy from the University of Sussex, UK.
Mousavian offers a history of American-Iranian relations that will
be familiar to many scholars; however, Mousavian's unique
perspective provides new insights into the relationship. His
knowledge of the inner workings of the Iranian political system and
political culture provide a previously unavailable account of the
history of this relationship. The book demonstrates the primary
importance of understanding the "other," and the significance of
understanding the politics and culture of rivals […] a must read
for any serious student interested in understanding Iran and the
Iranian perspective.
*CHOICE*
Mousavian (former Iranian diplomat; research scholar, Princeton
Univ.; The Iranian Nuclear Crisis: A Memoir) opens with a brief
outline of the major events characterizing the positive
U.S.-Iranian relations until the Iranian Revolution of 1979,
including the admittedly poor decision by the United States in its
backing of the 1953 coup and unwavering support of the Shah. The
majority of the remaining pages examines the relationship since
1979, exploring the dichotomous cultural and political clash
between the two nations. Mousavian does an incredible job of
walking readers through the major issues that continue to hamper
elusive attempts at attaining peace between the United States and
Iran while maintaining a central theme revolving around a “profound
mistrust, mis-perceptions, and a lack of mutual understanding.” The
author concludes by offering a very clear outline, beginning and
ending with the need for both sets of leadership to clearly define
what the desired end result of a peace process should be—what each
side stands to gain and has to offer. This well-researched work
written with Shahid Saless is essential to any collection of
U.S.-Iranian relations. It is also timely, given President Barack
Obama’s April 2014 signing of a law that bars entrance to the
United States by any foreign diplomat seen as a threat to national
security, which includes Iran’s choice for United Nations envoy
Hamid Aboutalebi because of suspicions of his involvement in the
hostage crisis. VERDICT Highly recommended for anyone with an
interest in international affairs, current events, or in
facilitating peaceful relations with Iran.
*Library Journal*
The ultimate value of the book lies in its insights into how
Iranian perspectives of the US relationship have evolved. It is
important reading for anyone seeking to understand Iranian
thinking, and a valuable reference for those seeking to assess
where the US-Iranian relationship may head in coming years.
*Australian Journal of Politics and History*
It should be required reading for those diplomats involved and for
anyone wishing to deepen their understanding of the tortured
relationship between Iran and the United States over the past four
decades. Iranian political actions are often seen as opaque in the
West. Iran and the United States convincingly goes beneath the
surface to show the motivations and emotional landscape of Iranian
officials in their frustrating dealings with the West.
*Middle East Journal*
The future of U.S.-Iran relations will be one of the most important
determinants of global stability in the coming years. This is a
clear, incisive and thought provoking look at how Iran sees its
relationship with the U.S., and a perspective shaped in the
crucible of revolution can see its way to normalization of
relations. Rich in detail, this is a must read insider account for
all those interested in U.S.-Iran relations and future of U.S.
foreign policy.
*Vali Nasr, author of The Dispensable Nation: American Foreign
Policy in Retreat*
An excellent historical summary ... kind to the newcomer and a
refreshing reminder to the specialist
*E-International Relations*
Seyed Hossein Mousavian's direct experience throughout the 35 years
of bitter hostility between the United States and Iran provides an
articulate, authoritative understanding of the causes of the
distrust, misperceptions, and missed opportunities that have
poisoned relations between Iran and the United States--nations that
were once close allies. Mousavian, as a student, scholar, and as a
diplomat knows both countries well. Most importantly, at this time
when an agreement to end the confrontation is possible, Mousavian
details a workable roadmap showing how successful negotiations on
nuclear issues can lead to the full restoration of civilized
relations.
*Ambassador William Green Miller*
Hossein Mousavian, a former negotiator for Iran, continues to
provide a unique insight into Iran's policy perspectives and
negotiating objectives. In Iran and the United States he adds a
useful dimension to the literature on U.S.-Iran relations by
recounting the history of these two powers as seen from Tehran.
This account is fresh, readable and filled with original
information and interpretations.
*Gary Sick, Director, Gulf/2000 Project (G2K) at Columbia
University, USA, and author of All Fall Down: America's Tragic
Encounter With Iran*
This wise and fascinating perspective on the history of Iran's
relations with the United States, written by a sophisticated
Iranian insider, will provide concerned Americans and Iranians with
an understanding of the causes of past failures to establish a more
constructive relationship and of the current window of
opportunity.
*Frank von Hippel, Professor of Public and International Affairs
emeritus, Princeton University*
In his Iran and the United States, Seyed Hossein Mousavian has
provided us with a well-reasoned, superbly written, Iranian
perspective on his country’s history, politics, its ties to the US
and the present, vitally important nuclear negotiations. Mousavian,
a former senior official and diplomat in the Islamic Republic,
brings to bear the insights of an insider. Valuable, well informed,
timely are descriptions which come to the mind of anyone, like
myself, who read this book and have followed closely America’s
complex relationship with Iran, and believe in the importance of
finding common ground.
*Frank G. Wisner, International Affairs Advisor, Patton Boggs,
LLP*
Agree or disagree with his opinions, Hossein Mousavian’s book is
worth a careful read. His point of view is too rarely heard by
Western audiences, and provides a thought-provoking counterweight
to the conventional American wisdom about this most difficult
relationship.
*John Limbert, Professor of Middle Eastern Studies, US Naval
Academy, and author of Negotiating with Iran: Wrestling the Ghosts
of History*
Part memoir and part analysis, Seyed Hossein Mousavian’s Iran and
the United States is must reading for anyone interested in
understanding the difficult relationship between the Islamic
Republic of Iran and the United States. Mousavian, who served in
senior posts in the Iranian government, knows the players and
directly participated in many of the events he describes, including
nuclear negotiations, an attempted assassination by the MEK, and
his own arrest by the Iranian government. Mousavian also knows the
US, his home for the last several years. Few observers can bring
such an acute understanding of both countries’ very different
perspectives on the world.
*Ambassador Jim Walsh*
Seyed Hossein Mousavian provides in a remarkably lucid account the
rare opportunity to learn from an Iranian insider who also
understands the West. As a former ambassador to Germany, a nuclear
negotiator with the current president of Iran, and a scholar at
Princeton University, Mousavian has unique credentials to explain
the many missed opportunities in the U.S.-Iran relationship. This
book is unusually insightful and pragmatic both, recognizing the
costs of enmity and the limits of détente. This deeply
knowledgeable analysis is as good as it gets.
*John Tirman, Executive Director, MIT Center for International
Studies, and coauthor of U.S.-Iran Misperceptions: A Dialogue*
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