Iran and the Nuclear Question

This is a major contribution, relying on in depth archival documents. It successfully unpacks and catalogues Iran's nuclear program in its formative years under the Shah's reign. It reveals heretofore unknown dynamics, including the influence exerted by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and its defiant first president, Akbar Etemad, on the non-proliferation policy debates in the United States and on the transfer of civilian nuclear know-how to the have-nots within the NPT regime. This is a serious addition to scholarship on nuclear proliferation literature and a definitive statement on the history of Iran's nuclear program. Highly Recommended. Nasser Hadian, University of Tehran One of the most thorough analyses of the history of one of the most contentious international conflicts of our age. Homayounvash masterfully digs deeper into the history of the Iranian nuclear program than any other scholar before him, shedding much needed light on this secretive endeavor that almost brought the US and Iran to war. Trita Parsi, Founder and current president of the National Iranian American Council. Iran's nuclear program has been the target of much misinformation, hype and outright distortion for more than a decade. In his contribution to the subject, Homayounvash provides a corrective and enables the reader to put the issue in its proper historical and political context. Drawing from original sources in Persian language and by tapping into previously seldom used archival material in english, he presents an original analysis that sheds a new light on the subject. As such, it should be of interest to students, scholars and policy makers alike. The book is a major contribution to our understanding of Iran's nuclear program and the issues surrounding its evolution in the last sixty years. This is a must read for those interested in Middle East politics as well as the issues surrounding nuclear proliferation and international security. Homayounvash's poignant analysis of Iranian case study and the factors that made its peaceful resolution possible, bears significant lessons in dealing with similar situations in other parts of the developing world. Manochehr Dorraj, Professor of International Affairs, Texas Christian University, USA Dr. Mohamad Homayounvash has written a well-researched, well-written, well-argued and comprehensive historiography about the genesis and evolution of Iran's controversial nuclear program. What distinguishes this book from many similar works is that it relies extensively on archival research in the United States as well as on the Persian language sources. Anyone interested in understanding and appreciating the nature and dynamics of Iran's nuclear program must surely read this factually and analytically rich book. Mohsen M. Milani, Executive Director at USF World Center for Strategic & Diplomatic Studies and Professor for Gov't & International Affairs, University of South Florida