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The New York Times - Roger Cohen

…an authoritative and accessible overview of this pivotal Middle Eastern power…Mr. Takeyh, an Iranian-American whose family fled Iran in 1979, brings to his subject an unusual combination of analysis and empathy…Anyone wishing to understand why restored American-Iranian ties are so elusive, but also so critical, should turn to this important work, a riveting and consistently insightful study of revolutionary Iran and its still troubled place in the world.

Publishers Weekly

Since the 1979 revolution that transformed Iran, some U.S. decision makers have treated the Islamic Republic as a political monolith, ignoring internal disagreements and political factions in favor of broadly painting Iran's leadership as "evil." Takeyh (Hidden Iran) argues credibly that this approach has been to our own peril, as the foreign policies of Iran are often an expression of domestic politics, no matter how opaque these politics may seem to outsiders. Rather than continue to try to contain Iran by means of "a broad-based Arab alliance," an approach that's been failing for decades, Takeyh argues that the U.S. must instead "conceive a situation whereby Iran... sees benefit in limiting its ambitions." In his previous book, Takeyh expressed an unassailable optimism that "Iran will change" and was on an inexorable path to greater openness-almost regardless of who was in power. Takeyh is more pessimistic in his predictions now, writing that Iran has "confounded the West's anticipation of a forward historical progression." By failing to acknowledge his own shifting understanding of the situation, Takeyh misses an opportunity to provide a genuinely honest-however inconsistent-assessment. (June)

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Library Journal

What are the factors that have shaped Iran's foreign policy posture toward the rest of the world in general and the West in particular? It's been a puzzle to many American decision makers for decades. Takeyh (Council of Foreign Relations), a well-known commentator on Iran's foreign policy, explains its evolution since 1979 in this lucidly written book. Takeyh demonstrates that Iran's foreign policy decisions are made based on ideological and pragmatic considerations. He compares and contrasts Iranian foreign policy decisions during the pragmatic presidencies of Rafsanjani and Khatami and analyzes the impact of the emergence of the "New Right" and the Ahmadinejad presidency on Iran's foreign policy. Recommended for students and general readers who are tracking the U.S.-Iranian relationship.—NE\

Kirkus Reviews

Forget Stalin, Mao and Reagan. The world leader with the greatest influence on the course of the here and now may be the Ayatollah Khomeini, architect of the 1979 Iran revolution. Khomeini, writes Takeyh (Hidden Iran: Paradox and Power in the Islamic Republic, 2006), merits consideration as "one of the most successful revolutionary leaders of the twentieth century." He also casts a shadow over current events as the tutelary spirit of Iran's current regime, and its shadow arm, Hezbollah, which has been doing so much damage elsewhere in the region. Iran's influence, writes Takeyh, owes a great deal to the Bush administration, which, by way of self-fulfilling prophecy, so demonized the Iranian government that a strange element came into power, exemplified by its Holocaust-denying president. "Iran has been offered unprecedented opportunities as its principal American nemesis finds itself unsure how to proceed in the Middle East," writes Takeyh, "while its oil wealth has provided it with sufficient revenues to offset Western financial pressures." Yet, the author counsels, Iran is not monolithic. It is full of pragmatists and even peacemakers, and it must be dealt with not as an arm of an imagined axis of evil but as a nation of considerable influence-one whose hard-line government may be forced to relax if an America that does not spoil for war or dominance suddenly figures on the scene. A friendlier Iran may, in the end, be of more influence in regional affairs than even a negotiated peace between Israel and Palestine. Two paths remain open to the younger conservatives who are now in power, Takeyh concludes: either "a more tempered relationship with the United States or open confrontationwith the Great Satan' "-a choice that will likely depend heavily on American actions. Policy wonkish in tone, but will appeal to followers of events in the Middle East. Agent: Larry Weissman/Larry Weissman Literary

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