Crossfire in the Middle East U.S.-Iran Rivalry, Regional Power Politics, and the Making of a New Middle East
Crossfire in the Middle East offers a sweeping, deeply researched, and authoritative account of one of the most consequential geopolitical rivalries of the modern era: the confrontation between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Spanning more than four decades - from the 1979 revolution to the nuclear crisis, the Iraq War, the rise of proxy networks, the JCPOA, the Maximum Pressure era, and the shifting alliances of the 2020s this book traces how U.S.-Iran tensions reshaped the Middle East and influenced global politics.
Drawing on historical evidence, strategic analysis, and regional case studies, the book explores:
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The ideological foundations of the Islamic Republic
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The hostage crisis and the collapse of diplomatic ties
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The Iran-Iraq War and the U.S. tilt toward Baghdad
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The evolution of Iran's nuclear program and the global response
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Sanctions, covert operations, and cyber warfare
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The diplomatic breakthrough of the JCPOA - and its unraveling
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The killing of Qassem Soleimani and the escalation that followed
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Iran's regional strategy across Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen
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The rise of China and Russia as Iran's strategic partners
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Future scenarios for U.S.-Iran relations in a multipolar world
Written with academic rigor and narrative clarity, Crossfire in the Middle East is essential reading for scholars, policymakers, journalists, and anyone seeking to understand the forces shaping the Middle East today. It provides not only a historical account but a forward-looking analysis of the risks, choices, and strategic realities that will define the region's future.
