For over a quarter-century, Iran has been one of America's chief nemeses. But as Ray Takeyh shows in this accessible and authoritative history of Iran's relations with the world since the revolution, behind the famous personalities and extremist slogans is a nation that is far more pragmatic—and complex—than many in the West have been led to believe.

A groundbreaking book that reveals how the underappreciated domestic political rivalries within Iran serve to explain the country's behavior on the world stage. A leading expert explains why we fail to understand Iran and offers a new strategy for redefining this crucial relationship.

Ray Takeyh, CFR's top Iran expert, says the only way Tehran might slow down or halt its nuclear program is for the United States to become more directly engaged in negotiations with the Iranians and offer some broad concessions.

In testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, CFR's Ray Takeyh says "more imaginative U.S. diplomacy" with Tehran can still prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear threat.