Vali Nasr

Many thanks for your review 🙏

Book of the week - Iran's Grand Strategy: A political history, by @valinasr.bsky.social. Great overview of the history and politics of Iran's grand strategy, with very useful emphasis on elements of continuity and change over time. One of the best books on Iran I've read.

A special election puts Democrats on track to flip the House Though the predictive power of these contests has shrunk of late

Despite Republicans holding their seat in Tennessee’s race this week, our congressional-forecasting model suggests that Democrats will win the midterms by about six percentage points next year

I enjoyed reading Lyse Doucet’s new book. It is engaging and thoughtful and tells Afghanistan’s harrowing recent history with empathy and through the eyes of its people. Highly recommend it.

Exclusive: UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break | CNN Politics The United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes ...

"The United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal" edition.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...

In New York, Zohran Mamdani showed how it’s done: ‘identity politics’ can win elections | Nesrine Malik New York’s newly elected mayor rooted his campaign in the personal while, ironically, exemplifying the tradition of the American ‘melting pot’, says Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik

In New York, Zohran Mamdani showed how it’s done: ‘identity politics’ can win elections | Nesrine Malik

This is truly end of the era of Global War on Terror. The day the architect of that strategy and the Islamophobia that followed 9/11 died, New York elected a Muslim mayor.

This is truly end of the era of Global War on Terror. The day the architect of that strategy and the Islamophobia that followed 9/11 died, New York elected a Muslim mayor.

China’s Global Exports Continue to Grow Despite Trump Tariffs As Trump has imposed steep tariffs on China, American importers are buying much less. But China has offset the decline from the United States with breathtaking speed.

What Trade War? China’s Export Juggernaut Marches On www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

William Dalrymple: rediscovering the ancient wonders of eastern Turkey Forty years after he first visited as a student, the historian takes a road trip across Eastern Anatolia, finding restored monuments, new museums and archaeological digs that shed fresh light on the region’s complex past

Forty years after he first visited as a student, historian @willdalrymple.bsky.social takes a road trip across Eastern Anatolia in Turkey, finding restored monuments, new museums and archaeological digs that shed fresh light on the region’s complex past.

Read more on.ft.com/437BgMJ

YouTube video by Novara Media Everything You’re Told About Iran Is Wrong | Aaron Bastani Meets Vali Nasr

My interview with @novaramedia, looking behind the headlines, where Iran is now, how did it get here and what is the future. youtu.be/jNHto1eQtSQ?...

YouTube video by Novara Media Everything You’re Told About Iran Is Wrong | Aaron Bastani Meets Vali Nasr

My interview with Novara media on what has motivated Iran and where the revolution is heading. youtu.be/jNHto1eQtSQ?...

TOMORROW: Don't miss out on this special conversation on #US – #Iran relations with Prof. @valinasr.bsky.social & Amb. @safiraleaf.bsky.social, moderated by Prof. @naghmehs.bsky.social!

🗓️ Oct. 30 | 4:30–6 pm | Rapaporte Treasure Hall & Online: bit.ly/4nH3l5O

YouTube video by Novara Media Everything You’re Told About Iran Is Wrong | Aaron Bastani Meets Vali Nasr

My interview with Novara media on what has motivated Iran and where the revolution is heading. youtu.be/jNHto1eQtSQ?...

NEXT WEEK: Where might #US – #Iran relations go next after their most direct confrontation in decades? Join us for a special conversation with @valinasr.bsky.social & @safiraleaf.bsky.social, moderated by @naghmehs.bsky.social. Register now: bit.ly/4nH3l5O

Prof. Naghmeh Sohrabi reflects on a pivotal moment in #US – #Iran relations & how history reminds us they could have taken a different path. Register for our next Crown Seminar, Oct. 30, 4:30 PM, with @naghmehs.bsky.social, @valinasr.bsky.social of @jhu.edu, & @safiraleaf.bsky.social: bit.ly/4nH3l5O

The limits of the ‘Donroe doctrine’ America’s attention is turning to its own backyard, but it is discovering that it still can’t go it alone

The limits of the ‘Donroe doctrine’ on.ft.com/42A2MlU | opinion

How Trump cornered Netanyahu into signing up for peace Israel’s prime minister has encountered the first US president he cannot easily outmanoeuvre

"The strike on Qatar “actually opened the door for all of this.” Must read piece: How Trump cornered Netanyahu into signing up for peace www.ft.com/content/6a62...

Iran's Water Crisis Is Its Greatest Threat The collapse of water security in Iran has been decades in the making and is rooted in a mania for mega projects.

Iran’s water crisis is the biggest threat it faces time.com/7321571/iran...

With Iran under pressure, fears grow of new Israeli strikes The Trump administration sees “snapback” sanctions as a key pressure tactic. For some U.S. allies, they raise fears of further instability.

I told Washington Post on the dangers of renewed war "The longer Iran and the United States go without restarting talks, the greater the likelihood of renewed conflict. And now that “snapback” sanctions have been reimposed, it could be months before the two sides are talking again." wapo.st/4gO6KNs

The Middle East That Israel Has Made Why Washington will rue the costs of Israeli aggression.

Excellent analysis by Sanam Vakil and Galip Dalay on the impact Israel’s wars on regional order www.foreignaffairs.com/israel/middl...

The Middle East That Israel Has Made Why Washington will rue the costs of Israeli aggression.

Excellent analysis by Sanam Vakil and Galip Dalay on the impact Israel’s wars on regional order www.foreignaffairs.com/israel/middl...

Hussein Agha and Robert Malley's new book, Tomorrow is Yesterday is a first rate examination of why the idea of "two-state solution" has thus far failed and why it is likely to fail again. There is much eye-opening history and ground realities in this book. highly recommended. a.co/d/aI4B41k

Book Talk: Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History - Arab Gulf States Institute On September 16, AGSI will host a discussion on the roots of Iran's strategic outlook.

TODAY at 12:30 pm ET: Book Talk: Iran’s Grand Strategy: A Political History with author @valinasr.bsky.social and @alfoneh.bsky.social, moderated by @ibishblog.bsky.social.

Book Talk: Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History - Arab Gulf States Institute On September 16, AGSI will host a discussion on the roots of Iran's strategic outlook.

Next week: AGSI will host a discussion on the roots of Iran's strategic outlook with @valinasr.bsky.social and @alfoneh.bsky.social, moderated by @ibishblog.bsky.social. Register today.

You heard it at Commonwealth Club World Affairs

Over the summer, @valinasr.bsky.social spoke with @swamiriver.bsky.social at @cwclub.bsky.social in San Francisco about Iran's grand strategy.

Photos below by Sarah Gonzalez/Peopletography

You can watch the entire program: youtu.be/K6fWqR3LDXA?...

Israel’s attack on Qatar is as big a shock for the Gulf as Iran’s attack on Abquaiq in 2019. And both have shown US security protection to be of little value. The attack on Qatar will prove as consequential as Iran’s attack on Abquaiq and that one changed the Gulf’s outlook in fundamental ways.

How to Make Snapback a Success The clock is ticking for a new nuclear deal with Iran.

Important piece by Ellie Geranmayeh: How to Make Snapback a Success - The clock is ticking for a new nuclear deal with Iran. foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/03/s...

www.instagram.com/p/DNybYQ_UDu...

Iran’s Roads Not Taken Tehran, Washington, and the failures that led to war.

My essay in Foreign Affairs on why war was not and is not inevitable between US and Iran and what lessons can be drawn from missed diplomatic opportunities: "Iran’s Roads Not Taken" www.foreignaffairs.com/iran/irans-r...