‘This is a book of impressive depth and breadth… Essential reading for understanding the roots of US–Iran tensions and the unfolding of American and Iranian foreign policies in the Middle East.’ Mehran Kamrava, author of Righteous Politics: Power and Resilience in Iran

'Mohsen Milani’s brilliantly researched book is a timely analysis of how Iran has built up its regional power... an important contribution to understanding how Iran has pursued its interests over the past 70 years and gives clues on how it might navigate what could be an even more turbulent 2025.'

– Financial Times

'The seismic events in the Middle East over the past 15 months – from the 7 October attacks on Israel to the subsequent wars in Gaza and Lebanon – have all been heavily influenced by the actions of one country: Iran... Mohsen M Milani traces the rapid shift in Iran’s foreign policy since the 1979 revolution, focusing on the country’s cold war with the US.'

– New Statesman

'A sweeping, authoritative and erudite account of how and why Iran has emerged as a regional power in the Middle East. Milani shows how decades of U.S.-Iran rivalry and confrontation has provided both motive and opportunity to Iran to expand its reach into the Arab world, and why the mounting costs of this strategy could make it unsustainable. Highly readable, judicious and brimming with insights.' Vali Nasr, author of Iran’s Grand Strategy: A Political History

'Professor Milani, with his profound scholarship, has provided a most useful and readable guide to what at first appears incomprehensible: an Iran transformed from a monarchy with few enemies to an Islamic Republic with few friends.' John W. Limbert, former US ambassador