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S2E8 | Kings and Ayatollahs: Iran's National Security

Jul 2, 2025

Guest

Vali Nasr

In this discussion, Vali Nasr, a noted professor and expert in Middle East studies, dives deep into Iran's complex history and its national security strategies. He illuminates the profound isolation Iran faces in the Middle East, tracing the roots of its identity from the Pahlavi era to the Ayatollahs. Nasr examines pivotal figures like Reza Shah and discusses key concepts like 'forward defense' and 'scared defense.' The conversation also reveals how Iran's historical grand strategy shapes its contemporary geopolitical relationships and responses to regional threats.

01:00:46

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INSIGHT

Iran's Unique Isolation in Region

Iran's uniqueness in language, culture, and Shia religion isolates it from Arab and Turkic Sunni neighbors.
This loneliness shapes Iranian leaders' strategic thinking about survival and regional relations.

insights

INSIGHT

Revolution's Mission: Genuine Independence

Khomeini saw Iran as never truly independent since imperial entanglements began in the 19th century.
The 1979 revolution's core mission was to establish genuine sovereignty and defy foreign domination.

insights

INSIGHT

Islam and Anti-Americanism in Security

Anti-Americanism and Islamic ideology became integral to Iran’s national security strategy.
Sacred defense ideology sustained popular unity during the Iran-Iraq War and continues to influence state policy.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Iran's Quest for Independence and Identity

04:55 • 24min

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Iran's Historical Grand Strategy

28:27 • 20min

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Diplomatic Missed Opportunities: The Iran-U.S. Relationship

48:09 • 2min

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Examining Iran's Forward Defense Strategy and Regional Influence

50:17 • 5min

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Understanding Iran's National Security through Historical Lens

55:16 • 3min

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Exploring Perspectives on Iranian History

58:22 • 2min

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How Sanctions Work

Djavad Salehi-Isfahani

Narges Bajoghli

Ali Vaez

Vali Nasr

In "How Sanctions Work," Vali Nasr investigates the use of economic sanctions as a tool of foreign policy, focusing on the case of Iran. The book analyzes the impact of sanctions on Iran's economy, society, and political system. It explores the intended and unintended consequences of sanctions, assessing their effectiveness in achieving policy goals. Nasr examines the historical context, political dynamics, and international dimensions of sanctions against Iran. The book offers insights into the complexities of economic warfare and its implications for international relations. Through detailed analysis, Nasr provides a nuanced perspective on the use of sanctions as a means of coercion and influence.

The Dispensable Nation

Vali Nasr

In "The Dispensable Nation," Vali Nasr examines the transformations in American foreign policy, particularly its retreat from global leadership. The book explores the historical context, political factors, and strategic choices shaping this shift. Nasr argues that the decline of American influence has profound implications for international stability and global order. He analyzes the consequences of this retreat for various regions, including the Middle East and Asia. The book offers a critical assessment of American foreign policy decisions and their long-term effects on global affairs. Through detailed analysis, Nasr provides insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the United States in a changing world.

Iran's Grand Strategy

A Political History

Vali Nasser

Alone in the Middle East! Imperial Iran… Safavids, Qajars, and even the Pahlavis - alone in the Middle East. And then, the Ayatollahs. Again, Iran alone in the Middle East.

🚩In this interview:

►What is it about Iran and its history that separates it from the rest of the Middle East?

►Who was Reza Shah and why is he so important to Iran's modern history?

►What was the last Shah's primary national security fear?

►Have the Ayatollahs continued the Pahlavis' national security strategies?

►If not, in what respects are the Ayatollahs' national security strategies different than the Pahlavis'?

►If so, in what way are they similar?

►What is forward defense?

►What is scared defense?

►What was the Shah's green plan?

🚩About My Guest Scholar:

Dr. Vali Nasr is a professor and former dean of International Affairs and Middle East Studies at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, where he is now the co-director of the SAIS Rethinking Iran Initiative.

Dr. Nasr has advised world leaders, business leaders, and senior American policymakers, including the U.S. President, Secretary of State, senior members of Congress, and presidential campaigns.

In this interview, we discuss his latest book, Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History.

🚩My Recommendations:

►2003 and Iran-US Failed Diplomacy: a discussion of Dr. Nasr's The Dispensable Nation - American Foreign Policy in Retreat

►How U.S. Sanctions On Iran Backfired On America: a discussion of Dr. Nasr's How Sanctions Work: Iran and the Impact of Economic Warfare

►Ayatollahs of Iran: Dr. Nasr explains Iran's Byzantine government structure

►History of Hijab in Iran: a conversation with Dr. Janet Afary

I hope you enjoy these episodes.

Adel Aali

⁠⁠⁠Support My Program⁠⁠⁠:

I rely on ⁠⁠⁠your support⁠⁠⁠ to continue this program. So thank you in advance.

🎶Music attributions:

1. Opening and closing music of the program:

Santur: Peyman Heydarian playing on the Santur some Iranian music. Recorded with a Sony PCM-D50 at the School of Oriental and African Studies of London on April 7th 2011.

Music available on at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://freesound.org/people/xserra/sounds/125654/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0 DEED)

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This music has been cut in shorter pieces and its volume has been adjusted in different portions of our program.

2. Background music to guest introduction:

The Desert | The Grand Score

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The Desert | The Grand Score by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://creatorchords.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music promoted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.free-stock-music.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The volume and lengths of this piece have been modified.

3. Background music to promoting History Behind News episodes:

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