Iran's Grand Strategy

Outline

Iran's Grand Strategy (2025) examines the historical forces, security concerns, and political calculations that have shaped Iran’s foreign policy since the 1979 revolution. Vali Nasr argues that Iran’s regional behaviour is not driven solely by religious ideology, but by a long-term strategy of resistance developed through war, isolation, sanctions, and confrontation with the United States. The book explores Iran’s use of regional alliances, proxy groups, diplomacy, and its nuclear programme to protect the state, expand its influence, and challenge the American-led order in the Middle East.

• Vali Nasr argues Iran's foreign policy since the 1979 revolution is shaped by security concerns and political calculation, not religious ideology alone.
• Iran's regional behaviour follows a long-term strategy of resistance built through war, isolation, sanctions and confrontation with the United States.
• Regional alliances, proxy groups and diplomacy are tools Iran uses to protect the state and expand its influence.
• Iran's nuclear programme is presented as part of a wider effort to defend the state and challenge the American-led order in the Middle East.

Vali Nasr is an Iranian American political scientist, author, and expert on Middle Eastern affairs and Islamic politics. He is a professor of international affairs and Middle East studies at Johns Hopkins University and previously served as dean of its School of Advanced International Studies. He also worked as a senior adviser to the United States special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, combining academic expertise with direct experience in foreign policy and diplomacy.