{"id":30999,"date":"2025-06-16T15:59:25","date_gmt":"2025-06-16T15:59:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/financialrush.com\/?p=30999"},"modified":"2025-06-16T15:59:25","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T15:59:25","slug":"seven-books-to-read-on-the-israel-iran-conflict","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/financialrush.com\/?p=30999","title":{"rendered":"seven books to read on the Israel-Iran conflict"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> \n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Unlock the Editor\u2019s Digest for free<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__content-sign-up-topic-description o3-type-body-base\"><span>Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe class=\"article__content-sign-up-iframe close\" scrolling=\"no\" id=\"signUpIframe\" data-prev-url=\"\/register\/in-article-sign-up?ft-content-uuid=3546c23c-53fb-4ade-b379-cf8a09c6e52f\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/iran\" data-trackable=\"link\">Iran<\/a>\u2019s complex rivalry with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/us-iran-tensions\" data-trackable=\"link\">US<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/israel\" data-trackable=\"link\">Israel<\/a> has helped shape Middle Eastern politics for decades. As tensions escalate in the region, understanding the roots and consequences of the conflict has never been more urgent. This curated selection of authoritative and thought-provoking reads explores what you need to know to understand how we got here \u2014 from Iran\u2019s premodern history and rise to power to its domestic motivations and the global implications of its power struggle with the west. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"n-content-image n-content-image--full\" data-component=\"image-set\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 700px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/__origami\/service\/image\/v2\/images\/raw\/ftcms%3Aac039512-6183-4975-972e-4d3196c2f58f?source=next-article&amp;fit=scale-down&amp;quality=highest&amp;width=700&amp;dpr=1 1x\" width=\"700\" height=\"350\"\/><\/picture><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"irans-grand-strategy-a-political-history\" class=\"n-content-heading-3 o3-editorial-typography-subheading\">Iran\u2019s Grand Strategy: A Political History <\/h3>\n<h5 id=\"by-vali-nasr\" class=\"n-content-heading-5 o3-type-label\">by Vali Nasr <\/h5>\n<p>The west\u2019s understanding of Iran \u201cis hopelessly inadequate and dangerously outdated\u201d, says Iranian-American academic Nasr. In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/ecafd5c4-3832-43ad-b7e0-482c45b44477\" data-trackable=\"link\"><em>Iran\u2019s Grand Strategy<\/em><\/a>, the author suggests that western nations must look beyond the prism of the 1979 revolution and argues that Iran\u2019s foreign policy is not driven by ideology but by a pragmatic, long-term strategy rooted in its history and experience. The book explores how events such as the Iran-Iraq war, the US invasion of Iraq and the ongoing threat of American containment have shaped Iran\u2019s tactical outlook, focusing on a fear of external intervention and a desire to secure its position in the region.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"irans-rise-and-rivalry-with-the-us-in-the-middle-east\" class=\"n-content-heading-3 o3-editorial-typography-subheading\">Iran\u2019s Rise and Rivalry with the US in the Middle East<\/h3>\n<h5 id=\"by-mohsen-milani\" class=\"n-content-heading-5 o3-type-label\">by Mohsen Milani <\/h5>\n<p>Political scientist Milani\u2019s latest book offers a meticulously researched account of Iran\u2019s quest for regional power during the past 70 years. Milani sets out in detail how Iran\u2019s influence has ebbed and flowed, seemingly peaking by the turn of the century, a decade after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/stream\/5255e02b-adb8-4bc9-9822-207e90033eaf\" data-trackable=\"link\">Hizbollah<\/a> was formed in response to Israel\u2019s 1982 invasion of Lebanon. Two events, the author argues, have since shaped Iran\u2019s trajectory: the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, which deposed Saddam Hussein and bolstered Tehran\u2019s influence, and Hamas\u2019s October 7 assault on Israel in 2023, which shifted regional dynamics in Israel\u2019s favour and left Iran strategically exposed. <\/p>\n<h3 id=\"iran-empire-of-the-mind\" class=\"n-content-heading-3 o3-editorial-typography-subheading\">Iran: Empire of the Mind <\/h3>\n<h5 id=\"by-michael-axworthy\" class=\"n-content-heading-5 o3-type-label\">by Michael Axworthy<\/h5>\n<p>\u201cWho are the Iranians? Where did they come from?\u201d To answer these questions, the author \u2014 a former British diplomat \u2014 explores the history of the beleaguered nation, going beyond the \u201cviolence and drama\u201d to take the reader on a journey through Iran\u2019s cultural past. The book spans the ancient era of the Prophet Zoroaster, the Persian Empire, and the 1979 Islamic Revolution, concluding during the presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad \u2014 the last time Iran was treated as a pariah state. Through this comprehensive history, Axworthy attempts to address the paradoxical nature of one of the world\u2019s oldest and most influential civilisations and explain why perceptions of the nation have shifted over time.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"n-content-image n-content-image--full\" data-component=\"image-set\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 700px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/__origami\/service\/image\/v2\/images\/raw\/ftcms%3Aabec6208-6981-4ea2-977c-979c8c152ec5?source=next-article&amp;fit=scale-down&amp;quality=highest&amp;width=700&amp;dpr=1 1x\" width=\"700\" height=\"350\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/__origami\/service\/image\/v2\/images\/raw\/https%3A%2F%2Fd1e00ek4ebabms.cloudfront.net%2Fproduction%2Fabec6208-6981-4ea2-977c-979c8c152ec5.jpg?source=next-article&amp;fit=scale-down&amp;quality=highest&amp;width=700&amp;dpr=1\" alt=\"\" data-image-type=\"image\" width=\"700\" height=\"350\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"patriot-of-persia-muhammad-mossadegh-and-a-very-british-coup\" class=\"n-content-heading-3 o3-editorial-typography-subheading\">Patriot of Persia: Muhammad Mossadegh and a Very British Coup <\/h3>\n<h5 id=\"by-christopher-de-bellaigue\" class=\"n-content-heading-5 o3-type-label\">by Christopher de Bellaigue <\/h5>\n<p>To fully understand Iranians\u2019 mistrust of the US and the UK in the modern era, look no further than the Anglo-American inspired coup that overthrew Muhammad Mossadegh, Iran\u2019s elected prime minister, in 1953. Rich in detail, this book outlines the struggle over Iran\u2019s oil resources after Mossadegh\u2019s plan to nationalise the sector made him a national hero but also drew the wrath of the UK, for whom control of Iranian oil was crucial to imperial interests.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"black-wave-saudi-arabia-iran-and-the-rivalry-that-unravelled-the-middle-east\" class=\"n-content-heading-3 o3-editorial-typography-subheading\">Black Wave: Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the Rivalry that Unravelled the Middle East <\/h3>\n<h5 id=\"by-kim-ghattas\" class=\"n-content-heading-5 o3-type-label\">by Kim Ghattas \u00a0<\/h5>\n<p>Published in 2020, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/0b7af154-42ab-11ea-abea-0c7a29cd66fe\" data-trackable=\"link\"><em>Black Wave<\/em><\/a> examines how the 1979 Islamic revolution reverberated across the Middle East. Ghattas, a veteran Middle East reporter, explores how the birth of the theocratic state triggered a bitter rivalry between Sunni Saudi and Shia Iran, which continues to play out today. It provides a timely reminder that the tensions rippling across the region are not only the result of hostilities between Iran and the west, but also have a dangerous regional dimension.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"n-content-image n-content-image--full\" data-component=\"image-set\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 700px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/__origami\/service\/image\/v2\/images\/raw\/ftcms%3Ada4ff15d-b067-4c5a-9313-a0d1fd4b0100?source=next-article&amp;fit=scale-down&amp;quality=highest&amp;width=700&amp;dpr=1 1x\" width=\"700\" height=\"350\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/__origami\/service\/image\/v2\/images\/raw\/https%3A%2F%2Fd1e00ek4ebabms.cloudfront.net%2Fproduction%2Fda4ff15d-b067-4c5a-9313-a0d1fd4b0100.jpg?source=next-article&amp;fit=scale-down&amp;quality=highest&amp;width=700&amp;dpr=1\" alt=\"\" data-image-type=\"image\" width=\"700\" height=\"350\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"woman-life-freedom\" class=\"n-content-heading-3 o3-editorial-typography-subheading\">Woman, Life, Freedom <\/h3>\n<h5 id=\"by-marjane-satrapi\" class=\"n-content-heading-5 o3-type-label\">by Marjane Satrapi <\/h5>\n<p>This multi-authored collection of stories offers a vivid visualisation of the protests and subsequent government crackdown that took place across Iran after the death of a young Kurdish-Iranian woman in September 2022, at the hands of Iran\u2019s morality police. Edited by Satrapi, author of the autobiographical graphic novel series <em>Persepolis<\/em>, the book provides first-hand perspectives on Iranian resistance and government crackdowns. The collection explores the nature of the regime\u2019s tyranny and the extent of its divisive techniques, which create a culture of fear through surveillance, humiliation and intimidation. Shedding a light on the collective yearning for a better Iran, the stories conclude that political change, if not revolution, is inevitable.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"the-mantle-of-the-prophet-religion-and-politics-in-iran\" class=\"n-content-heading-3 o3-editorial-typography-subheading\">The Mantle of the Prophet: Religion and Politics in Iran <\/h3>\n<h5 id=\"by-roy-mottahedeh\" class=\"n-content-heading-5 o3-type-label\">by Roy Mottahedeh<\/h5>\n<p>Former Harvard professor Mottahedeh\u2019s tale of Islam and politics in revolutionary Iran, first published in 1985, draws from first-hand accounts of eyewitnesses to provide a comprehensive overview of the traditions, systems and \u201ccomplexity of culture\u201d that govern Iranian public life, all told through the tale of a cleric\u2019s progression from student to teacher. The book, which Mottahedeh started before and published during Iran\u2019s most tumultuous decade, provides rare insights into the teachings and lives of the Shia religious class and the events that led up to the 1979 revolution.<\/p>\n<p><em>Join our online book group on Facebook at<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/139838140082304\/\" data-trackable=\"link\"><em> FT Books Caf\u00e9<\/em><\/a><em> and follow FT Weekend on<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/ft_weekend\/\" data-trackable=\"link\"><em> Instagram<\/em><\/a><em>, <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/ftweekend.com\" data-trackable=\"link\"><em>Bluesky<\/em><\/a><em> and<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ftweekend\" data-trackable=\"link\"><em>\u00a0X<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/3546c23c-53fb-4ade-b379-cf8a09c6e52f\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Unlock the Editor\u2019s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":31000,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30999","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-us","cs-entry","cs-video-wrap"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/financialrush.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30999","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/financialrush.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/financialrush.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/financialrush.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/financialrush.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=30999"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/financialrush.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30999\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/financialrush.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/31000"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/financialrush.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=30999"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/financialrush.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=30999"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/financialrush.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=30999"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}