The Long War on Iran: New Events, Old Questions

by Behrooz Ghamari

The United States and Iran have been locked in a decades-long standoff, driven by missteps, misunderstandings, and conflicting ambitions. This book, from a prominent Iranian authority, delves into the complex dynamics behind this ongoing conflict. It sheds light on why American policies have repeatedly failed to understand the true nature of Iran’s transformations and its role in the Middle East.

Drawing on two decades of political analysis, Ghamari explores the history of US intervention in the region, focusing on the enduring sanctions imposed on Iran and the persistent perception of the Islamic Republic as a major obstacle to American power. Despite the repressive policies of the state, Iran has remained a vibrant society with active intellectual, cultural, and social justice movements. The book examines these internal changes and shifts in Iranian politics.

By challenging the conventional image of Iran as a totalitarian regime, Ghamari urges readers to appreciate the country’s diverse society and complex political landscape. It calls for a re-evaluation of how the US engages with Iran, advocating for a more informed, nuanced approach to Middle East diplomacy. At a critical moment when US policy is being reshaped, The Long War on Iran is a timely reminder that, if the US fails to acknowledge Iran’s transformations, both nations will continue to face new events―and the same old questions.

Genres: Iran, Nonfiction, History, Middle East

264 pages, Paperback

First published January 13, 2026

Reviews

[Lydia]

So, I liked reading this, but it is hard to give it a rating... I felt like the book was perhaps a little too uncritical, but maybe that is just because I agreed with almost everything in the book. Throughout the articles/chapters, Ghamari exposes a lot of misconceptions, historical inaccuracies, and covert dealings, but in most cases, I already took the "exposed" version as truth, and I didn't feel there was enough depth in problematizing the situation.

I will say, since each article (written over a couple decades) seems to be responding to contemporaneous events, sufficient context is not always given. If not for this, I would definitely recommend this book as a good introduction to US-Iran relations and the perception vs reality of politics & life in Iran.

also... lots of typos :/

[Damian 4]

A collection of articles and blog posts, not really a book. Many typographyical errors and wierd citations. Worth finishing.

[Mike]

I love OR Books for their though provoking works that get me to rethink what I know. I picked up _The Long War On Iran_ partially because of the silliness of the current US administration trying to force Iran to change at the point of a gun. Actually two carrier battle groups plus other aircraft. The current administration obviously hasn't read any history, as regime change via external forces never actually does what the assailant desires (Iraq & Vietnam are two recent attempts). I also read about the 1953 coup in January that provides a nice bracket to this book. If the USA didn't try to change things in 1953 (solely to stop Iran from nationalizing their oil industry), but instead worked with the country, the 1979 revolution wouldn't have happened. Or it may have, but done over a much longer period of time with less blood shed. But the USA always thinks it knows best.

The author provides a lot of really interesting insight into the country of Iran after the 1979 revolution. I didn't realize that women's rights have expanded under the Republic, whereas they didn't have much under the Shah. The people of Iran participate in elections, which can change society. It helps show the will of the people & slowly push for more social reforms. I also didn't know that Iran helped out after the tragedy of 9-11, as a blocking force against the Taliban and helping push for the Northern Alliance. Of course, the USA just trashed Iran's help instead of using it as a bridge to better relations.

The author gives an insider view into how the current Iranian leadership sees USA sabre rattling. The more the USA & Israel threaten, the more the internal security forces will clamp down. As seen in the latest protests over the huge inflation of food prices, the USA said they would help (but of course that was a lie), which then gave the internal security forces the boogieman needed to use deadly force on thousands. Instead of threatening to bomb the country into submission, we back off and let the internal forces of change gain more traction.

The folks in charge of USA foreign policy only think of Iran in a single dimension. ie all bad. Like any place, the country has a wide range of people, with a wide range of opinions & outlooks. As can be seen across wars against countries, the more you threaten the people, the more they will rally around their leaders, no matter how flawed. Reading through the book, the question about what would happen if the USA just left the country alone. Work with them on taking their place in the region. They could be wonderful allies. But the USA still feels slighted by the events of 1979. Only when the USA leadership gets over itself will the healing begin. But with the way the USA is trying to imitate Russia, then it won't happen until the USA is rebuilt on a more sane foundation.

[Maryam Zia]

With the current unfolding events between the United States and Iran, I wanted to read a book that would help me understand why Iran occupies such an important place in American foreign policy, its geopolitical significance, the political repression within the country, and how these factors contributed to the situation we see today. *A Long War on Iran* did not disappoint.

The book is a collection of essays written by Professor Behrooz Ghamari between 2005 and 2023, supplemented by an introduction that brings the discussion up to 2025. As someone who was once a political prisoner in Iran, Ghamari offers a perspective that is both deeply personal and academically rigorous.

Through these essays, he takes readers on a journey through some of the most turbulent years in modern Iranian history, showing how the country has remained remarkably resilient despite sanctions, international isolation, and constant external pressure. One of the book's greatest strengths is its nuance. Ghamari does not portray the Islamic Republic as an entirely evil or monolithic entity. Readers looking for a simple good-versus-bad narrative about Iran's leadership since the 1979 Revolution may want to look elsewhere.

Instead, he examines how Iranian leaders have reacted to perceived threats from the United States and Israel, particularly when those threats were seen as challenges to Iran's sovereignty. At the same time, he does not shy away from discussing the Iranian government's human rights violations and political repression. The book is critical without becoming simplistic.

I found the essays on women particularly interesting. Ghamari argues that repression has not diminished women's participation in civil society and politics; if anything, it has strengthened it. He illustrates how Iranian women have continued to push for greater political and social engagement despite significant obstacles.

A recurring theme throughout the book is how decades of living under the threat of external intervention or invasion have shaped the Iranian state. Ghamari suggests that these pressures have contributed to a more paranoid and security-focused political system, while also undermining reformist movements within the country. In this sense, external threats often prove counterproductive, strengthening the very forces they are intended to weaken.

Overall, this is an excellent and highly informative read. Whether you agree with all of Ghamari's conclusions or not, the book provides valuable historical and political context for understanding contemporary Iran. I would highly recommend it to anyone seeking a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the country and its relationship with the West.

[Diane]

This book is a collection of essays, written over a 20 year period, by an Iranian author, looking at US and Iranian politics and relations. The author, by his own admission, participated in the revolution in 1979, but was later put in prison by the new regime. After his release, he emigrated to the West. The book is organized into different sections, looking at Iranian politics, US politics, the relations between the two countries, and the Iranian opposition.

The first essays date from the early 2000s, and the most recent ones from the early 2020s (during the Mahsa Amini protests). The author seems to be a supporter of the Reformist movement in Iran, and provides a good case for how that movement worked, and how US policy was undermining it in some ways. However, there is a long gap in his writing, from the mid-2000s to the mid-2010s, so he doesn't directly address the Green Movement, its failure, and the aftermath. This is the book's biggest weakness, as it undermines the author's overall point. The author does lament the lack of choices in the 2021 election, but doesn't connect this to government policies begun after the Green Movement to prevent any but the most hard-line candidates from running for office. The only essay from this period is one looking at the incoming Obama administration.

The author is deeply critical of many US politicians. While this is fair, he writes in a rather intemperate way, that I think undermines his basic point. Many of the essays read more like op-eds than like scholarly writings. The section on the opposition movements is good, but only looks at the Mahsa Amini protests, to the exclusion of other protest movements that occurred earlier. He makes the argument, common among leftist Iranians, that the Mahsa Amini protests show an effort to organize the opposition on a grassroots level. This is interesting, but a bit underexplored. I think the author could have gone much further in developing this theme.

[David Craig]

A selection of essays written contemporaneously at various notable points in the recent history of Iran and the wider world. Due to this formatting, it doesn’t feel cohesive or comprehensive as a typical history book might.

I’d have to do more reading to say with confidence whether I agree with all the author’s arguments, but he makes some interesting points. Parts of it a little outdated and more typos than average. Overall, a solid introduction to the subject, but not much more than that.

[AJ Rich-Jones]

3.5⭐️
Draws somewhat of a depressing timeline to where we now find ourselves. Developed into a criticism of recent US domestic politics, evidently because they impact much of what happens in the international