Vali Nasr

YouTube video by FRONTLINE PBS | Official Remaking the Middle East: Israel vs. Iran (full documentary) | FRONTLINE

It was great to be a part of Frontline’s 2 hour documentary telling the story of Iran Israel confrontation and how it is remaking the Middle East. full documentary) 👉 youtu.be/ZPuY5KhwRRg?...

The Generation Iranian Hard-Liners Have Been Waiting for How Israel’s strikes reshaped Iran’s political future.

Must read piece by Narges Bajoghli on how Israel’s-US attack has changed the political landscape in Iran in fundamental ways, and not what the West assumes and hopes for foreignpolicy.com/2025/07/29/t...

The Generation Iranian Hard-Liners Have Been Waiting for How Israel’s strikes reshaped Iran’s political future.

Must read piece by Narges Bajoghli on how Israel’s-US attack has changed the political landscape in Iran in fundamental ways, and not what the West assumes and hopes for foreignpolicy.com/2025/07/29/t...

Tonight at @cwclub.bsky.social in S.F.:
• 5:30 PM PDT / @samkbloch.bsky.social: Shade, The Promise of a Forgotten Natural Resource
(with @emmettfitzgerald.bsky.social)
• 6 PM PDT / @valinasr.bsky.social: Iran's Grand Strategy
(with @swamiriver.bsky.social)

Details & tix: commonwealthclub.org/events

Catch all of the speakers, topics, community and ideas at @cwclub.bsky.social this week.

Details & tickets: commonwealthclulb.org/events

@valinasr.bsky.social @jwassers.bsky.social @samkbloch.bsky.social

Israeli military says airdrops of aid into Gaza set to begin tonight amid increased starvation deaths For months, the U.N. and experts have warned that Palestinians in Gaza are at risk of famine, with reports of increasing numbers of people dying from causes related to malnutrition.

"Airdrops will not reverse the deepening starvation," UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini wrote on X on Saturday. "They are expensive, inefficient & can even kill starving civilians. It is a distraction & screensmoke."

www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-...

Speaking Reassurance to Power, by Pankaj Mishra

Must read: Pankaj Mishra’s insightful and trenchant critique of passivity and complicity of American liberal intellectuals in the age of Trump harpers.org/archive/2025...

Speaking Reassurance to Power, by Pankaj Mishra

Must read: Pankaj Mishra’s insightful and trenchant critique of passivity and complicity of American liberal intellectuals in the age of Trump harpers.org/archive/2025...

Iran at a Crossroads: War, Survival, and the Future of the Islamic Republic Could this be the beginning of a new chapter for Iran’s foreign policy—and for its pro-democracy movement?

As Iran faces war and internal unrest, the regime faces mounting pressure to maintain control as calls for reform intensify.

👤 @valinasr.bsky.social joins Gönül Tol to unpack it all on the Iran at a Crossroads podcast.

www.mei.edu/multimedia/p...

The latest on Middle East economies: Syria, oil markets, and more YouTube video by Peterson Institute for International Economics

stocktaking on where Middle East economies stand: Syria, oil markets, and more www.youtube.com/live/7RmoQ9N...

Reading @valinasr.bsky.social's book, you can chart Iran’s political history by decade:
'50s: Mossadegh coup
'60s: Econ boom, social change, repression
'70s: Revolution
'80s: Iraq war
'90s: Reform vs conservatism
'00s: US invasion of Iraq
'10s: Iran’s regional peak
'20s: Axis unraveling?

Mass starvation stalks Gaza as deaths from hunger rise Aid agencies warned for months that Israel’s harsh limits on food aid would bring acute malnutrition and widespread suffering to Gaza’s 2.1 million people.

"testimonies from doctors, relief workers and Gazans this week make it clear that a worst-case scenario is finally unfolding: Nearly one in three people are going multiple days without eating, and hospitals are reporting rising deaths from malnutrition and starvation" wapo.st/3GXPS9A

Iran’s Leaders Turn to a New Brand of Nationalism After Israeli and U.S. Attacks

After Israeli attack a new language of politics in Iran fusing Shiism with Iranian nationalism...it is not just state-driven, plenty of evidence that it is also coming from the society www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/w...

Iran’s Leaders Turn to a New Brand of Nationalism After Israeli and U.S. Attacks

After Israeli attack a new language of politics in Iran fusing Shiism with Iranian nationalism...it is not just state-driven, plenty of evidence that it is also coming from the society www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/w...

Making America Alone Again History offers few parallels for Washington’s repudiation of its own alliances.

Excellent article by Margaret MacMillan on the costs and consequences of US's deliberate undermining of its alliances. www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...

Why Did Israel Attack Syria? What Comes Next? Former Israeli peace negotiator Daniel Levy breaks down what Netanyahu hoped to gain at home and in the region with his latest escalation.

Must read piece by Daniel Levy on why Israel bombed Syria open.substack.com/pub/zeteo/p/...

Opinion | We Warned About the First China Shock. The Next One Will Be Worse.

Excellent essay: We Warned About the First China Shock. The Next One Will Be Worse. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/o...

Why Did Israel Attack Syria? What Comes Next? Former Israeli peace negotiator Daniel Levy breaks down what Netanyahu hoped to gain at home and in the region with his latest escalation.

Must read piece by Daniel Levy on why Israel bombed Syria open.substack.com/pub/zeteo/p/...

Opinion | We Warned About the First China Shock. The Next One Will Be Worse.

Excellent essay: We Warned About the First China Shock. The Next One Will Be Worse. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/o...

This image of Damascus…and a sinking feeling for the future the Middle East

This image of Damascus…and a sinking feeling for the future the Middle East

Through Trial and Error, Iran Found Gaps in Israel’s Storied Air Defenses The proportion of missiles that slipped through doubled during the 12-day war, data show, as Tehran found vulnerabilities through trial and error.

WSJ: “Over 12 days of war, Iran pierced Israel’s air defenses with increasing success, showing that even the world’s most advanced systems can be penetrated” www.wsj.com/world/middle...

YouTube video by Security in Context Understanding Iran's Grand Strategy: A discussion with Vali Nasr

My podcast interview with Security in Context youtu.be/ETU43-P9a7M?...

Through Trial and Error, Iran Found Gaps in Israel’s Storied Air Defenses The proportion of missiles that slipped through doubled during the 12-day war, data show, as Tehran found vulnerabilities through trial and error.

WSJ: “Over 12 days of war, Iran pierced Israel’s air defenses with increasing success, showing that even the world’s most advanced systems can be penetrated” www.wsj.com/world/middle...

YouTube video by Security in Context Understanding Iran's Grand Strategy: A discussion with Vali Nasr

My podcast interview with Security in Context youtu.be/ETU43-P9a7M?...

Episode 227 - Aspects of History

It was wonderful to speak with the Aspects of History podcast about my book and what it says about the current state of play. aspectsofhistory.com/podcasts/epi...

Are We Seeing the Outlines of a New Middle East?

A good read on how a new Syria and setbacks for Iran could influence a new order in the Middle East? www.nytimes.com/2025/07/13/u...

Gazans Confront a Stark Choice: Risk Death to Get Food, or Starve A rash of shootings has made the trek through combat zones to U.S. and Israeli-backed food aid sites a deadly one.

Palestinians in Gaza are facing a stark choice every day: starve or risk death while trying to get food www.wsj.com/world/middle...

Episode 227 - Aspects of History

It was wonderful to speak with the Aspects of History podcast about my book and what it says about the current state of play. aspectsofhistory.com/podcasts/epi...

The Islamic Republic’s New Lease on Life How the U.S.-Israeli strikes empowered the Iranian regime.

Excellent analysis by Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar on how Iranians have reacted to the war and where their rulers may take the country from this point on www.foreignaffairs.com/israel/islam...