STUDIES on IRAN Responses,Articles - FPRC (Foreign Policy

397 Pages·2013·6.24 MB·English

Country-specific Studies (1)

STUDIES
on
IRAN

Responses,Articles

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Foreign Policy Research Centre
NEW DELHI (India)

_________________________________
Country –specific Studies (1) STUDIES on IRAN

I
n the month of April 2013, Foreign Policy Research Centre (FPRC)
launched a country-specific studies project. These countries hold an
importance place for India . Each study seeks to highlight India’s
relationship in bilateral and international perspective. The initiative
begins with Iran and is to be followed by similar studies on other
countries-Pakistan,Afghanistan.

The Iran project is a timely initiative and in our venture, we have the
support of national and international scholars who have agreed to
come under the umbrella of FPRC to disseminate knowledge on Iran. We
express our sincere gratitude to them for their cooperation in bringing
this project to a successful culmination. They have always been a source
of strength to us.

Dr.Mahendra Gaur Dr.Indira Gaur
Director Mg. Director
Foreign Policy Research Centre
New Delhi

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From the Editor’s Desk

Sylvia Mishra is currently Research
Associate at ICRIER-Wadhwani Chair in India-
US Policy Studies. Prior to her working at
ICRIER, she has worked at several New Delhi
and London based think tanks. Her research
interests include Middle Eastern politics and
Geostrategy, International Security and
Foreign Policy Analysis. She holds a Masters
degree in International Relations from
London School of Economics.
Perhaps no other country has piqued the extent of interest, speculation and concern
that Iran has generated in the last couple of years. This has re-calibrated
tremendous curiosity in Iran, positioning it as a focal point in the present
international politics. Rich in cultural heritage and richer by the vagaries of political
transitions, the greatness of the Iranian past forms a part of the country’s national
conscience and its historical influences bear strong semblance on the current
political discourse. As the Arab spring continues to unfold and its changing impact
being experienced at local, regional and international politics, it hinges on the
geopolitical realities of Iran. Iran’s geo-strategic position in the heartland of the
Greater Middle East and its location cradled in between the Caucasus and the Indian
Sea makes it an important regional actor. With energy becoming a salient concern
and Iran being home to the world’s third largest oil reserves, political developments
have catapulted Iran to prominence as not only a powerful country in its immediate
neighbourhood but also in the world. However, defying global powers and the spirit
and letter of international law, the country has plunged into a long standing
isolation in the international community. In spite of the spate of recent economic
difficulties at home, the Iranian people have once again displayed the elixir of life
and hope in democratically electing moderate cleric Hassan Rouhani as the
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President of Iran. The world now looks to the Iranian leaders to lead Iran into a path
of integration with the world economy. Iran’s integration with the world community
would also entail precluding fulfilment of Iran’s obligations as a responsible power.
FPRC embarked on a path to demystify Iran, one of the world’s most interesting and
significant political actors. The country’s defiance and resilience has raised critical
questions on issues with far-reaching implications directly affecting the complexion
of world politics. To capture this significance of Iran within its region and beyond,
FPRC has attempted to furbish a volume of dedicated research work which has
engendered rich debate on Iran. To assist this quest of FPRC, veteran diplomats,
renowned authors, scholars, columnists and pundits of Iran’s foreign policy have
come under FPRC’s canopy to present a contextual analysis of the Iranian-state,
society, foreign policy and diplomacy. This volume explores and reflects on the
comparative causes and the drivers of insecurity, challenges and prospects of
politics in Iran and its implications on international policy.
The completion of this volume is made possible by the valuable contribution of all
our contributors and their commitment to the cause of research on topical issues
concerning Iran. This volume is incomplete without the mention of my inspiration,
Dr. Mahendra Gaur. Prof. Gaur is the energy behind this volume and he has worked
both zealously and tirelessly to bring this volume to fruition. I want to convey heart-
felt gratitude to Prof. Gaur. This book project most importantly was borne out of
love, friendship, admiration and respect for Iran, its people and culture. With the
help of this volume I want to reach out to our readers with the message of
friendship, mutual respect and tolerance which we harbour in our hearts and
display in our bilateral relations with Iran. The completion of this project also comes
at a critical juncture in Iranian politics when Iranian people and leaders face new
opportunities and challenges and a vision of “Change; Government of Prudence and
Hope.”
In the hope for a better world promoted by peace, friendship, social justice and
dialogue between nations, I wish all our readers happy and conscious reading.
Sincerely,
Sylvia Mishra

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Contributors

RESPONSES :

1. Amb. Akbar Mirza Khaleeli
Former Indian Ambassador to Iran

2. Dr. Dov S. Zakheim
Senior Advisor at the Center for Strategi and International Studies and Senior Fellow,
CAN Corporation

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3. Amb.Touqir Hussain
Former Pakistan Ambassador
Senior Visiting Fellow at SAIS Johns Hopkins University and Adjunct Professor at
Georgetown University and the Syracuse University ( Washington DC campus)

4. Dr. Trita Parsi
Founder and President of the National Iranian American Council

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5. Dr.Marvin G. Weinbaum
Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-
Champaign; currently, Director of the Pakistan Studies Center at the Middle East
Institute in Washington

6. Dr. Pierre Goldschmidt
Non-resident Senior Associate,Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment

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7. Alex Vatanka
Adjunct Scholar at the Middle East Institute ,Washington D.C.

8. Dr. Ali M Ansari
Professor of Iranian History & Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the
University of St Andrews;
Senior Associate Fellow, Royal United Services Institute; Vice President of the British
Institute for Persian Studies

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9. Dr.Daniel Pipes
President of the Middle East Forum

ARTICLES :

(A) Iran and US

Ambassador Karamatullah K. Ghori
A former Pakistani career diplomat

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Dr. Mark N. Katz
Professor of Government and Politics at George Mason University (Fairfax, Virginia, USA)

Prof. HooshangAmirahmadi
Former director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Rutgers University
&
Kayvon Afshari
Political scientist and CBS News journalist

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