iranprimer.usip.orgThe Iran Primer

Skip to main content Toggle navigation Search Search Search Main navigation Home New Articles Interviews U.S. Policy Iran Policy Profiles Reports News Digest Front Page Coronavirus Strikes Iran: Timeline 04/10/2020 Iran's Political Future After Election 03/05/2020 2020 Election Results 03/09/2020 Iran’s Roster of Influence Abroad 04/09/2020 Comparing U.S. and Iran Military Might 01/10/2020 Invisible U.S.-Iran Cyber War 03/09/2020 The Book The Challenge of Iran Robin Wright Politics Supreme Leader : Sadjadpour Seven Presidents : Bakhash Parliament : Farhi Assembly of Experts : Farhi Judiciary : Ghaemi Clergy : Khalaji Iran's Islam : Cole Iran's Democracy : Brumberg Military Revolutionary Guards : Nader Basij Force : Alfoneh Conventional Military : Cordesman Military Doctrine : Connell Economy Economy : Maloney Oil Sector : Mohamedi Oil & Gas Chart : Mohamedi Subsidies : Nikou The Bazaar : Harris People and Power Power Structure : Boroujerdi / Rahimkhani Political Elite : Boroujerdi / Rahimkhani Opposition Green Movement : Milani Women : Esfandiari Youth : Memarian/Nesvaderani Nuclear Deals 2015 JCPOA Nuclear Deal 2015 Nuclear Framework 2013 Interim Nuclear Deal Nuclear Program Nuclear Program : Albright/Stricker Nuclear Politics : Chubin Ballistic Missiles : Elleman The IAEA : Adler Sanctions U.S. Sanctions : Clawson U.N. Resolutions : Starr Financial Sanctions : Levitt Sanctions-Details U.S. Sanctions : Starr / Ighani Rights Sanctions : Wright U.N. Resolutions : Starr Iran & the Region Iraq : Eisenstadt Afghanistan : Milani The Gulf : Molavi Turkey : Barkey Israel : Simon Palestinians : Brandenburg Syria : Goodarzi Lebanon : Hokayem China : Park Russia : Katz European Union : Posch Other Allies : Heydemann U.S. - Iran Carter Presidency : Sick Reagan Presidency : Kemp Bush I Presidency : Haass Clinton Presidency : Riedel Bush II Presidency : Hadley Obama Presidency : Limbert Policy Options Reading Iran : Laipson Engaging Iran : Dobbins Diplomacy : DiMaggio Containment : Pollack Military Option : Zakheim Timelines Political Timeline : Nikou Diplomatic Timeline : Nikou / Glenn / Nada Military Timeline : Nikou Nuclear Timeline : Nikou / Glenn / Nada Nuclear sites : Nikou Information sources : Nikou About the Authors The Nuclear Deal: Text, Official Reactions, & Other Resources "With courage, political will, mutual respect and leadership, we delivered on what the world was hoping for: a shared commitment to peace and to join hands in order to make our world safer. This is an historic day also because we are creating the conditions for building trust and opening a new chapter in our relationship. "No one ever thought it would be easy. Historic decisions never are. But despite all twists and turns of the talks, and the number of extensions, hope and determination enabled us to overcome all the difficult moments. We have always been aware we had a responsibility to our generation and the future ones." —Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and E.U. foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, in a statement on July 14, 2015 Click here for the full text of the nuclear deal. Click here for analysis and reaction to the JCPOA. Iran Factbox Land borders Afghanistan - 585 miles Armenia - 22 miles Azerbaijan-Nakhchivan exclave - 112 miles Azerbaijan - 270 miles Iraq - 911 miles Pakistan - 568 miles Turkmenistan - 620 miles Turkey - 312 miles 2019 population: 84.9 million Ethnic divisions: Persian 61 percent Azeri 16 percent Kurd 10 percent Arab 2 percent Lur 6 percent Baloch 2 percent Turkmen 2 percent Other 1 percent Religious divisions: Muslims 99 percent: Shiite 90 percent Sunni 9 percent Other significant minorities-based on varying estimates: Baha'i - 300,000 Christians (mainly Assyrian and Armenian churches) - 300,000-370,000 Zoroastrians - 25,000 to 60,000 Bordering bodies of water: Caspian Sea - 462 miles Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman - 1,525 miles Sources: CIA World Factbook (2016, 2019), U.S. State Department International Religious Freedom Report 2013 “: Power, Politics and U.S. Policy” is an unprecedented project by 50 of the world’s top scholars on Iran representing some 20 foreign policy think tanks, eight universities, and senior foreign policy officials from six U.S. administrations. The book has no single political perspective or agenda, as the authors approach the subjects with a wide range of views. They include scholars at the US Institute of Peace, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the Council on Foreign Relations, Brookings Institution, Rand Corp, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Asia Society, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, American Enterprise Institute, the Institute for Science and International Security, Washington Institute for Near East Policy, New America Foundation, Stimson Center, Center for Naval Analyses, Nixon Center, The Century Foundation, International and Foreign Policy Institute (Berlin), the Foreign Policy Research Institute, and several universities, including Stanford, Michigan, Columbia, Johns Hopkins, Georgetown, Syracuse, and the U.S. Naval Academy. Two of the authors are former U.N. weapons inspectors. And the national security adviser or top National Security official in charge of Iran from six presidencies also contributed chapters on what happened between the United States and Iran during that administration. The book is also a living website project, as the entire book is available free on the web. It will also be constantly updated. The goal is to provide information about the many complex sides of a country with which the United States has not had relations for more than three decades. Rules for Republication Online news media are welcome to republish original blog postings from this website in full, with a citation and link back to website ( www.iranprimer.com ) as the original source. Any edits must be authorized by the author. Permission to reprint excerpts from book should be directed to permissions@usip.org Newsletter Sign Up "" -- Overview The world’s most comprehensive website on Iran, “The Primer” brings together 50 experts—Western and Iranian—in concise chapters on politics, economy, military, foreign policy, and the nuclear program. It chronicles events under six U.S. presidents. It also has leader bios, timelines, data on nuclear sites—and context for what lies ahead. New articles are at the top. 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