Why this book?
- To understand the origins and evolution of the US policy of "Dual Containment" toward Iran and Iraq.
- For a historical examination of US economic sanctions against Iran from 1979 to 2007.
- To understand the role of the Iran-Iraq War in shaping subsequent US policies in the region.
- To examine the role of Israel in US policymaking regarding the containment of Iran.
- To trace US policy from the Carter and Reagan eras through to Clinton and George W. Bush.
About the book
The book "Iran and America," written by Sasan Fayazmanesh, is a study in political economy and foreign policy that examines United States relations with Iran between 1979 and 2007 through the lens of the "Dual Containment" policy. The book's central question is how the policy of simultaneously containing Iran and Iraq emerged, what transformations it underwent during different US administrations, and what place economic sanctions held in its implementation.
Fayazmanesh traces the origins of this policy back to the Jimmy Carter administration, although the term "Dual Containment" gained fame during the Bill Clinton era. Adopting a historical approach, the book follows developments over several decades: from the Iran-Iraq War and the policies of the Carter and Reagan administrations to the expansion of sanctions during the Clinton era and the aggressive policy of the George W. Bush administration after the September 11 attacks. The role of Israel in shaping US policy toward Iran is also one of the independent axes of this research.
The book's structure is primarily based on chronological order, and the author uses first-hand reports, academic research, and media reports to advance the discussion. Economic sanctions also hold a central place, and the book attempts to analyze them not as isolated measures but within the broader context of US foreign policy and the strategy of containing Iran.