The Rise of Nuclear Iran: How Tehran Defies the West

by Dore Gold

Former U.N. Ambassador Dore Gold shows why engaging Iran through diplomacy is not only futile but also could be deadly. In the West, liberal politicians and pundits are calling for renewed diplomatic engagement with Iran, convinced that Tehran will respond to reason and halt its nuclear weapons program. Yet, countries have repeatedly tried diplomatic talks and utterly failed. In The Rise of Nuclear Iran, Gold examines these past failures, showing how Iran employed strategic deception and delay tactics to hide its intentions from the West. He argues that Western policymakers underestimate Iran s hostility toward us and explains why diplomacy will continue to backfire, no matter which party or president is in power.

Genres: Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2009

About the author

Isidor "Dore" Gold was an American-Israeli political scientist and diplomat who served as Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations from 1997 to 1999. He was the President of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. He was also an advisor to the former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his first term in office. In May 2015, Netanyahu named him Director-General of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a position he held until October 2016.

Reviews

[Shara]

I listened to this as an audiobook and it wasn't particularly engaging. I suppose it lives up to its name, describing how Iran defies the west, but it feels like a textbook. Dates and names and events, but light on interpretation.

[Jae]

I started this book last year as a foray back into nonfiction and international relations. Unfortunately the book relies on harmful tropes and stereotypes of Iran - which came as no surprise once I realized the author was a long time senior advisor and close friend of Benjamin Netanyahu.

[Allen Roth]

Excellent history of how inept handling of the Iran issue led to the rise of nuclear Iran. Interesting insights into Iran's society and radical Islamic regime. This is a very good guide to our relations to Iran past, present, and future. It is well written to boot with telling photos. You know a picture is worth a thousand words.

[Thomas]

A necessary read. Iran has been an ever present player in all things Middle East, and it isn't going anywhere. 'The Rise of Nuclear Iran' will definitely get you up to date (well, up to 2009 at least).

What this book lacks by way of flowing, engaging prose - it makes up for in hard facts and accessibility.

[Wim]

A book with sometimes shokcing views.