The Long War on Iran

with Behrooz Ghamari

In this moment of crisis we are thrilled to welcome Behrooz Ghamari, Iranian historian and scholar who spent three years on death row in the Evin Prison in Iran on Wednesday March 18th at 7pm.

In his new book, The Long War on Iran (O/R) Ghamari draws on two decades of political analysis to explore 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. He 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.

Behrooz Ghamari is affiliated with the Elahé Omidyar Mir-Djalali Institute of Iranian Studies at the University of Toronto. He was Professor and Chair of the Department of Near Eastern Studies and Director of the Center for Iran and Persian Gulf Studies at Princeton University from 2020 to 2024.

He is the author of three books on different aspects and historical context of the Iranian revolution of 1979 and its aftermath: Islam and Dissent in Post-Revolutionary Iran; Foucault in Iran: Islamic Revolution after the Enlightenment; and Remembering Akbar: Inside the Iranian Revolution.

“Brimming with insight, this book expertly demystifies Iran.”
—Vali Nasr

“Ghamari parts the dark veil surrounding Iran, allowing us to finally see through the fog of mystification and misdirection that has warped our perception of one of the world’s most dangerously misunderstood societies.”
—Jeffrey St. Clair

“The book weaves personal memory with political analysis, arguing that Iran is better understood as a fractured society shaped by trauma, fear and competing hopes rather than ideological fanaticism alone.”
—The Sri Lankan Guardian

“Behrooz Ghamari was a death row prisoner in 1984, during the Iran-Iraq War, nearly dying of Lymphoma. He survived to tell the story. It is also the story . . . of a country misused and abused, from within and outside.”
—Le Monde Diplomatique

“Blending personal experience with sharp analysis, the book invites readers to rethink entrenched narratives and view Iran through a more nuanced political lens.”
—The Daily Star