By the award-winning author of the bestselling novel, "A Hundred Sweet Promises""THE HARMLESS NECESSARY CAT: A World War II Family Saga in Allied-Occupied Iran"- Winner of the 2024 E.M. Forster Gold Medal for Middle Eastern Historical Fiction.Tehran, 1941. The world is ablaze, but in neutral Iran, life carries on—until British and Russian tanks roll in. Overnight, the lives of ordinary Iranian families, like the Ahangars, are thrown into chaos. As their world crumbles, the Ahangars must make impossible choices to survive amid the dangerous tides of war.In this coming-of-age story, young Sohrab Ahangar finds solace in an unlikely bond with his sister-in-law Krista and a growing friendship with Karl, two German expatriates whose community's presence in Iran adds to the rising tension. As Sohrab confronts the disintegration of his once-peaceful life, he uncovers a web of hidden loyalties.Inspired by a true story, Sepehr Haddad's The Harmless Necessary Cat weaves a powerful narrative of love, loss, and resilience. This mesmerizing family saga depicts innocent lives caught in history's crosshairs, offering a poignant testament to the enduring power of hope and perseverance in the face of war.KIRKUS REVIEWS ”Readers will find Haddad’s prose to be richly detailed and absorbing. The characters are memorable and subtly drawn, and several scenes, including accounts of brutal interrogations and thrilling car chases, are truly gripping… A satisfying adventure and, for some readers, a primer on timely history.”PUBLISHERS WEEKLY “Haddad (author of A Hundred Sweet Promises) pens a moving story, inspired by true events, of Iran during the Second World War, illuminating a lesser-known slice of history in its occupation by British and Soviet forces, …A thoughtful portrayal of Iran during its World War II occupation.”XANADU BOOK REVIEW ”Haddad tells the story with lyricism and depth that linger long after the final page is turned. The Harmless Necessary Cat is a rare triumph: a novel that is as rich in historical insight as it is in emotional truth, a testament to the indomitable spirit of those who endure.”READER VIEWS “The Harmless Necessary Cat by Sepehr Haddad will have historical fiction fans clamoring for more of the author’s work. It teaches, informs, enlightens, and entertains, ultimately arguing for peace.” Read more

The 1979 Islamic Revolution triggered a cold war between Iran and the United States – former fast friends. Despite the US’s relentless efforts at containment, Iran has risen as a formidable power in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and Gaza. Its newfound status not only frustrates the US but has swiftly become a thorn in the side of Israel and Saudi Arabia. How did Iran rise so rapidly? And as it faces ever increasing pressure at home and abroad, can it hold onto its power? Mohsen Milani guides us through the twists and turns of the Iran–US rivalry in the battlefields of the Middle East. Going from the fall of the Shah to revolutionary Iran’s alliances with Syria, Hamas, Hezbollah, Iraqi militias, and the Houthis in the Axis of Resistance, Milani lifts the veil on Iran’s foreign policy strategy and its implications for the region, the US and Iran itself. Read more

#1 bestselling author Ken Follett tells the inspiring true story of the Middle East hostage crisis that began in 1978, and of the unconventional means one American used to save his countrymen. . . . When two of his employees were held hostage in a heavily guarded prison fortress in Iran, one man took matters into his own hands: businessman H. Ross Perot. His team consisted of a group of volunteers from the executive ranks of his corporation, handpicked and trained by a retired Green Beret officer. To free the imprisoned Americans, they would face incalculable odds on a mission that only true heroes would have dared. . . . Read more

“A digestible history of this tortured land is something Americans sorely need. . . . Polk carefully constructs one.” ―USA Today William R. Polk provides an informative, readable history of a country which is moving quickly toward becoming the dominant power and culture of the Middle East. A former member of the State Department's Policy Planning Council, Polk describes a country and a history misunderstood by many in the West. While Iranians chafe under the yolk of their current leaders, they also have bitter memories of generations of British, Russian and American espionage, invasion, and dominance. There are important lessons to be learned from the past, and Polk teases them out of a long and rich history and shows that it is not just now, but for decades to come that an understanding of Iran will be essential to American safety and well-being.“A superb and insightful historical account of Iran and the evolution of the Persian culture.” ―General Anthony C. Zinni USMC (Retired), co-author of Leading the Charge and The Battle for Peace“A great scholar's brilliant appreciation of Iranian culture and history.” ―Dr. Khodadad Farmanfarmaian, former Deputy Prime Minister of Iran“A thoughtful, clear-eyed look at America's entanglement in the Middle East. . . . sharp, smart analysis.” —David Ignatius, columnnst for the Washington Post and author of The Increment “William Polk presents the reader with the full sweep of Iraq's history. . . . a comprehensive tour.” ―Washington Times “Haunting. . . . One of the clearest prescriptions for success in Iraq yet to emerge.” ―Publishers Weekly   Read more

A Wall Street Journal Best Book of the Year/Politics Winner of the Jewish Book Council’s Natan Notable Book Prize “One of the most accurate and fascinating books so far” (Michael Bar-Zohar, coauthor of Mossad) about how Israel used sabotage, assassination, cyberwar—and diplomacy—to thwart Iran’s development of nuclear weapons and, in the process, begin to reshape the Middle East.Yonah Bob and Ilan Evyatar describe how Israel has used cyberwarfare, targeted assassinations, and sabotage of Iranian facilities to great effect, sometimes in cooperation with the United States. Even as it takes lethal action, Israel has managed to alter the politics of the Middle East, culminating in the Abraham Accords of 2020. Arab states such as Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates normalized relations with Israel, and the holy grail of normalization with Saudi Arabia may yet be achieved. Despite the war with Hamas, these Arab states share Israel’s concern with Iran, remaining silent while Israel undermines Iran’s nuclear program. Bob and Evyatar reveal how Israel has used documents stolen from Tehran in a daring, secret Mossad raid to show the United States and the International Atomic Energy Agency how Iran has repeatedly violated the 2015 JCPOA nuclear agreement and lied about its active nuclear weapons program. Drawing from interviews with top confidential Israeli and US sources, including from the Mossad and the CIA, the authors tell the “thrilling” (Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, author of Battlegrounds) inside story of the tumultuous, and often bloody, history of how Israel has managed to outmaneuver Iran—so far. Read more

By the award-winning author of the bestselling novel, "THE HARMLESS NECESSARY CAT: A World War II Family Saga in Allied-Occupied Iran"A HUNDRED SWEET PROMISES - AS FEATURED ON NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO (NPR)- WINNER - 2023 AMERICAN FICTION AWARDS - Historical Fiction & Historical Romance- 2022 HFC GOLD CATEGORY WINNER - Historical AudiobookA family secret revealed 40 years ago by a grandmother to her grandson is now an acclaimed Russian historical fiction novel. "A Hundred Sweet Promises" is the tale of the author’s grandfather, Nasrosoltan, a famed composer, who on the eve of World War I travels from Persia to Russia to study classical music at the St. Petersburg Conservatory with such masters as Rimsky-Korsakov. While there, Nasrosoltan falls in love with a Romanov princess, but the royalty surrounding him considers this a forbidden love. Unexpectedly, the Tsar gets involved, and Nasrosoltan suddenly finds himself in a battle between head and heart while being carried forward on a wave of destiny toward an uncertain future. A novel based on a true story set against the backdrop of the final days of Imperial Russia.KIRKUS REVIEWS"...An exceedingly intelligent tale that thoughtfully juxtaposes the maddening effects of romantic love with the violent paroxysms of political insurrection. Furthermore, the reader is given a rare literary treat: a peek into distinct revolutionary periods—Russia and Iran in the early years of the 20th century and Iran in the century’s last quarter. A dramatically affecting novel that is also politically astute."PUBLISHERS WEEKLY REVIEW "....one of the peculiar pleasures of this novel is that its author seems deeply familiar with & fond of 19th century Russian literature; there are hints of Chekhov, Tolstoy’s “Kreutzer Sonata” and Pushkin’s “The Queen of Spades.” The narrative style evokes the writers of that period, and their influence is felt throughout the text. The novel is well-researched and convincingly recreates the pomp and glitter of St. Petersburg in the twilight of the Romanov empire. The story brings back how honor was an achievable ideal and nobility of character and behavior were the qualities sought after in a romantic hero and heroine. Nasrosoltan Minbashian is an appealing and vividly drawn romantic hero in his grandson's retelling of the ill-fated love between the Persian composer and the Russian princess who ultimately wound up wed to Rasputin's assassin, Prince Felix Yusupov. Nasrosoltan's complex inner life and character are depicted with a sure hand."-"Already this novel is being compared to Chekhov, Tolstoy, and Pushkin, but I would venture to add another famous Russian novelist into the mix – Boris Pasternak – for in the story I saw the reflection of the rich and meaty tale of Doctor Zhivago, which blends the turbulence of the political arena at the precipice of the Great War and the Russian Revolution with the lovely refrains of young love and the dreamy world of an artist in search of escape where love reigns supreme. Zhivago’s love of poetry and his homeland is overshadowed by reality, just as Nasrosoltan’s love of music along with his love of both Russia and Iran is brought face to face with the harsh reality of his station in life – face to face with Tsar Nicholas, himself, in a confrontation and pronouncement of love as to place this book firmly alongside those classic Russian novels as a contender for pure, exquisite literature. And if ever a book needed to be made into a movie, this is it for it offers all the elements of a perfect historical romance melding together the powerful lessons taught as a result of the political upheaval and national unrest which grew to a frenzy against the Russian nobility of that time."- Author DK Marley, HFC Editorial Review Read more

The 40th Anniversary Edition of Food of Life: Ancient Persian and Modern Iranian Cooking and Ceremonies by Najmieh Batmanglij contains more recipes and more photos. Each recipe has been restructured for more clarity, including tips and suggestions from her fans over the past 40 years.Food of Life provides 400+ authentic Iranian recipes as well as an introduction to Persian art, history, and culture. The book’s hundreds of full color photographs are intertwined with descriptions of ancient and modern Persian ceremonies, poetry, folktales, travelogue excerpts and anecdotes. This book is a labour of love that began in exile, after the Iranian Revolution of 1979, as a love letter to Najmieh’s children. It is the result of 40 years of collecting, testing and adapting Persian recipes for today’s kitchen. All the ingredients for cooking Persian food are now readily available throughout the U.S. enabling anyone from a master chef to a novice to reproduce the refined tastes, textures, and beauty of Persian cuisine. Food-related pieces from the 10th century Book of Kings, and 1,001 Nights to the classics of Persian poetry, the humor of Mulla Nasruddin, as well as Persian miniatures are all included.Each recipe is presented with steps that are logical and easy to follow. Readers learn how to simply yet deliciously cook rice with its golden crust tahdig, the jewel of Persian cooking, which, when combined with a little meat, fowl, or fish, vegetables, fruits, and herbs, provides the perfect balanced diet.Najmieh Batmanglij, is an acclaimed chef, best-selling cookbook author, and cooking instructor. She is also the co-founder and executive chef of the award winning Persian restaurant Joon, in Vienna Virginia. Najmieh was hailed as “one of seven immigrant women who changed the way americans eat” by The New York Times, and The Grande Dame of Iranian Cooking by Mayukh Sen in The Washington Post. Her latest book Cooking in Iran: Regional Recipes & Kitchen Secrets, was the culmination of tens of thousands of miles of travel through Iran. It was chosen as one of the best cookbooks of 2018, and called “magisterial” by The New York Times.Batmanglij views preparing a meal not only as a culinary experience, but also as a means to bring family and friends together. She encourages her readers to use her books as she was taught in Iran, to cook, to laugh, to tell jokes and stories, to recite poetry, and to enjoy the meal. Over the past 40 years, Batmanglij’s books have acted as a both a beacon and a bible to Iranian-American and mixed-ethnicity families in the English-speaking world. Her life and her work meet at the vortex of feminism, tradition, ceremony, and the nourishment of body and mind, proving that none of these concepts need be foreign to one another. Read more

One of NPR's Books We Love in 2022.In this erudite and piercing biography, best-selling author Reza Aslan proves that one person’s actions can have revolutionary consequences that reverberate the world over.Little known in America but venerated as a martyr in Iran, Howard Baskerville was a twenty-two-year-old Christian missionary from South Dakota who traveled to Persia (modern-day Iran) in 1907 for a two-year stint teaching English and preaching the gospel. He arrived in the midst of a democratic revolution—the first of its kind in the Middle East—led by a group of brilliant young firebrands committed to transforming their country into a fully self-determining, constitutional monarchy, one with free elections and an independent parliament.The Persian students Baskerville educated in English in turn educated him about their struggle for democracy, ultimately inspiring him to leave his teaching post and join them in their fight against a tyrannical shah and his British and Russian backers. “The only difference between me and these people is the place of my birth," Baskerville declared, “and that is not a big difference.”In 1909, Baskerville was killed in battle alongside his students, but his martyrdom spurred on the revolutionaries who succeeded in removing the shah from power, signing a new constitution, and rebuilding parliament in Tehran. To this day, Baskerville’s tomb in the city of Tabriz remains a place of pilgrimage. Every year, thousands of Iranians visit his grave to honor the American who gave his life for Iran.In this rip-roaring tale of his life and death, Aslan gives us a powerful parable about the universal ideals of democracy—and to what degree Americans are willing to support those ideals in a foreign land. Woven throughout is an essential history of the nation we now know as Iran—frequently demonized and misunderstood in the West. Indeed, Baskerville’s life and death represent a “road not taken” in Iran. Baskerville’s story, like his life, is at the center of a whirlwind in which Americans must ask themselves: How seriously do we take our ideals of constitutional democracy and whose freedom do we support? Read more

An Irish Times Best Food Book of the Year. 'A dream of a cookery book. Sumptuous, tempting with quite beautiful photography.'Irish Examiner'The book is so beautiful, full of [your] own photographs, that look like gorgeous still life paintings.' Suzy Kline, BBC R4 Saturday Live'The best kind of cookbook are those that you make you want to scribble and make every dish.'The Hampstead Kitchen'A menu of Middle Eastern gems to tempt the taste buds' Sunday ExpressGourmand World Cookbook 2019 award finalistAuthor and photographer Atoosa Sepehr offers not just mouthwatering traditional Iranian recipes, but also her own sumptuous photographs of both her food and the people and landsapes of Iran. Born and brought up in Iran, Atoosa came to work in the UK in 2007, but she never left behind the wonderful flavours of her family and childhood. Cooking these dishes for her family and friends over here has given her the passion to share the authentic, home cooked Persian cuisine with an international readership. The book contains traditional recipes handed down the generations, but converted to fit into Atoosa's busy life. They are delicious and easy to prepare, using ingredients you can get in any supermarket. 'Every time I cook a Persian dish, I feel connected to this long and varied history, knowing that despite changing geographical and political boundaries, Persian cuisine has survived and thrived, bringing people together, sharing and celebrating.' AtoosaAtoosa's Persian Kitchen is an impressively practical recipe book, but it is a photographic celebration of an entire country, too. Read more

A new history of Assyria, the ancient civilization that set the model for future empires  At its height in 660 BCE, the kingdom of Assyria stretched from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. It was the first empire the world had ever seen. Here, historian Eckart Frahm tells the epic story of Assyria and its formative role in global history. Assyria’s wide-ranging conquests have long been known from the Hebrew Bible and later Greek accounts. But nearly two centuries of research now permit a rich picture of the Assyrians and their empire beyond the battlefield: their vast libraries and monumental sculptures, their elaborate trade and information networks, and the crucial role played by royal women.   Although Assyria was crushed by rising powers in the late seventh century BCE, its legacy endured from the Babylonian and Persian empires to Rome and beyond. Assyria is a stunning and authoritative account of a civilization essential to understanding the ancient world and our own.  Read more

As the Commander of U.S. Central Command, General Frank McKenzie oversaw some of the most important — and controversial — operations in modern U.S. military history. He had direct operational responsibility for the strikes on Qassem Soleimani and two successive leaders of ISIS, the many months of deterrence operations against Iran and its proxies, and the methodical drawdown in Iraq. He directed the noncombatant evacuation operation in Afghanistan, and our final withdrawal from that tortured country.    The Melting Point has three themes. The first one is the importance of the primacy of civilian control of the military. It has become a widely perceived truth that this control has been eroded over the past few years. General McKenzie doesn’t believe that to be the case, and he speaks with some authority on the matter arguing that the civ-mil relationship isn’t perfect or frictionless, but it doesn’t have to be, and probably shouldn’t be. It is, however, more durable than many believe, and is supported and embraced by the military to a degree that some critics do not choose to recognize.    The second theme is the uniqueness of being a combatant commander. Combatant commanders participate in the development of policy, although as junior partners.  They are also responsible for the execution of policy once civilian leaders have formulated their decision, a unique position, and very different than the role of a service chief, or even the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. None of these officers are in the chain of command, and they have no ultimate, mortal responsibility or authority for execution. Only the combatant commander stands astride the boundary of decision-making and execution.    Finally, the third theme that McKenzie argues is that leaders matter, and the decisions they make have a profound effect on what happens on the battlefield. McKenzie provides an honest assessment of his time in command—describing decisions that were sound, as well as some outcomes he wishes were different. He offers a vivid portrait of leadership in action in one of the most volatile regions of the world.  Read more

A masterfully researched and compelling history of Iran from 1501 to 2009 This history of modern Iran is not a survey in the conventional sense but an ambitious exploration of the story of a nation. It offers a revealing look at how events, people, and institutions are shaped by currents that sometimes reach back hundreds of years. The book covers the complex history of the diverse societies and economies of Iran against the background of dynastic changes, revolutions, civil wars, foreign occupation, and the rise of the Islamic Republic.   Abbas Amanat combines chronological and thematic approaches, exploring events with lasting implications for modern Iran and the world. Drawing on diverse historical scholarship and emphasizing the twentieth century, he addresses debates about Iran’s culture and politics. Political history is the driving narrative force, given impetus by Amanat's decades of research and study. He layers the book with discussions of literature, music, and the arts; ideology and religion; economy and society; and cultural identity and heritage. Read more

In Revolutionary Iran, Michael Axworthy guides us through recent Iranian history from shortly before the 1979 Islamic revolution through the summer of 2009, when Iranians poured into the streets of Tehran by the hundreds of thousands, demanding free, democratic government. Axworthy explains how that outpouring of support for an end to tyranny in Iran paused and then moved on to other areas in the region like Egypt and Libya, leaving Iran's leadership unchanged.The Iranian Revolution of 1979 was a defining moment of the modern era. Its success unleashed a wave of Islamist fervor across the Middle East and signaled a sharp decline in the appeal of Western ideologies in the Islamic world. Axworthy takes readers through the major periods in Iranian history over the last thirty years: the overthrow of the old regime and the creation of the new one; the Iran-Iraq war; the reconstruction era following the war; the reformist wave led by Mohammed Khatami; and the present day, in which reactionaries have re-established control. Throughout, he emphasizes that the Iranian revolution was centrally important in modern history because it provided the world with a clear model of development that was not rooted in Western ideologies. Whereas the world's major revolutions of the previous two centuries had been fuelled by Western, secular ideologies, the Iranian Revolution drew its inspiration from Islam. Revolutionary Iran is both richly textured and from one of the leading authorities on the region; combining an expansive scope with the most accessible and definitive account of this epoch in all its humanity. Read more

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Shia RevivalA gripping account that overturns simplistic portrayals of Iran as a theocratic pariah state, revealing how its strategic moves on the world stage are driven by two pervasive threats—external aggression and internal dissolutionIran presents one of the most significant foreign policy challenges for America and the West, yet very little is known about what the country’s goals really are. Vali Nasr examines Iran’s political history in new ways to explain its actions and ambitions on the world stage, showing how, behind the veneer of theocracy and Islamic ideology, today’s Iran is pursuing a grand strategy aimed at securing the country internally and asserting its place in the region and the world.Drawing on memoirs, oral histories, and original in-depth interviews with Iranian decision makers, Nasr brings to light facts and events in Iran’s political history that have been overlooked until now. He traces the roots of Iran’s strategic outlook to its experiences over the past four decades of war with Iraq in the 1980s and the subsequent American containment of Iran, invasion of Iraq in 2003, and posture toward Iran thereafter. Nasr reveals how these experiences have shaped a geopolitical outlook driven by pervasive fear of America and its plans for the Middle East.Challenging the notion that Iran’s foreign policy simply reflects its revolutionary values or theocratic government, Iran’s Grand Strategy provides invaluable new insights into what Iran wants and why, explaining the country’s resistance to the United States, its nuclear ambitions, and its pursuit of influence and proxies across the Middle East. Read more

A Gripping Account of the Rise and Fall of Iran's Glamorous Pahlavi DynastyIn this remarkably human portrait of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, one of the twentieth century's most complicated personalities, Andrew Scott Cooper traces the Shah's life from childhood through his ascension to the throne in 1941. Drawing on the turbulent post-war era, Cooper details how the Shah survived assassination attempts and coup plots to build a modern, pro-Western state, launching Iran onto the world stage as one of the top five powers.The Fall of Heaven offers an intimate look at the Shah's political career alongside his courtship and marriage to Farah Diba, who became a power in her own right, and the beloved family they created. Through the eyes of leading Iranian revolutionaries, President Jimmy Carter, White House officials, the American embassy in Tehran, and Empress Farah herself, Cooper delivers an investigative account of the dramatic fall of the Pahlavi dynasty.This sweeping narrative recreates in stunning detail the final days of one of the world's most legendary ruling families, the unseating of which helped set the stage for the current state of the Middle East. A must-read for anyone interested in Iranian history, Middle Eastern politics, and the rise and fall of great empires. Read more

No other nation on Earth has contributed more to the elevation of the human spirit, and to the enrichment of every aspect of civilization on a global scale, than Iran. Some of the most defining scientific, religious, and cultural characteristics of both the Eastern and Western Worlds actually owe their origin to Iran, let alone the contributions that Iran has made to the formation of the so-called “Islamic World.” The latter is almost entirely Iranian in terms of its high culture, and if “Islamic Civilization” is to have any future at all, it needs to be transformed back into Iranian Civilization. That is the impression that one is left with after reading this monumental history of Iran, not just as a country, but as a vast civilization encompassing many related cultures and ethnicities. It is the first history of Iran ever written from a philosophical perspective. In other words, far from being a textbook history, this study aims to discern the inner meaning of Iran and the spiritual destiny of the Iranians or Eastern Aryans. As an original work of Philosophy, Iranian Leviathan explores fundamental concepts in the realm of metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and political philosophy. With respect to socio-political thought, this philosophical history lays the groundwork for the ideological program of an Iranian Renaissance. This is a bold and unapologetic vision, not only for the revitalization of culture within Greater Iran, but also for the reestablishment of Iran as an imperial hegemon and global superpower in our time. Read more

In this one-hour history book, discover how the Iranian Revolution of 1979 changed the course of Iran history, the Middle-East, and the rest of the World! Free bonus inside! As of early 2020, the Islamic Republic of Iran has entered into the public consciousness to a degree unmatched since its founding in a dramatic revolution just over 40 years ago. Tensions relating to Iran’s nuclear program and U.S. foreign policy have ratcheted up recently, and the world has been holding its breath over whether America and Iran might soon be at war. When the two nations exchanged a series of blows in December of 2019 and January of 2020, culminating in the U.S. assassination of an Iranian general in Iraq and a retaliatory strike leveled by Iran against American bases in the same country, it seemed like nothing short of a miracle that a declaration of war did not follow. Yet even as these two bitter enemies pull back and deescalate tension, many are wondering—what caused all that tension in the first place? Well, it can all be traced back to Iran’s 1979 revolution, and this book tells the story of the events preceding the revolution, the revolution itself, and its lasting aftermath. If you would like to have a full understanding of why we are where we are today, this book is a highly recommended read. This short-read book is a perfect introduction to the Iranian Revolution of 1979 that you can easily read in an hour or less. After reading this one-hour book, you will know the main events of the Iranian Revolution and its impact Iran, the Middle East, and the World Download FREE with Kindle Unlimited and FREE bonus included inside! Scroll back up and click the Buy Now button located on the right side of this page. Read more

A “magnificent” (Spectator) history of the epic rivalry between the ancient world’s two great superpowers  The Roman empire was like no other. Stretching from the north of Britain to the Sahara, and from the Atlantic coast to the Euphrates, it imposed peace and prosperity on an unprecedented scale.  Its only true rival lay in the east, where the Parthian and then Persian empires ruled over great cities and the trade routes to mysterious lands beyond. This was the region Alexander the Great had swept through, creating a dream of glory and conquest that tantalized Greeks and Romans alike. Tracing seven centuries of conflict between Rome and Persia, historian Adrian Goldsworthy shows how these two great powers evolved together. Despite their endless clashes, trade between the empires enriched them both, and a mutual respect prevented both Rome and Persia from permanently destroying the other.  Epic in scope, Rome and Persia completely reshapes our understanding of one of the greatest rivalries of world history.  Read more

In that the clerical regime in Iran lacks the military capability to build advanced weaponry, it has resorted to the production of weapons and equipment that can be used for terrorist and war-mongering activities intended to advance its policy of creating crises and fueling terrorism. One such weapon, in the production and export of which the regime has invested heavily in recent years, is a variety of drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This manuscript offers a review of the most important organs of production, use and export of UAVs by the regime, and in particular the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). In the first chapter, entitled "Production of UAVs," the history of the IRGC's production of the earliest types of UAVs during the Iran-Iraq War is reviewed, after which the Quds Air Industries, affiliated with the Air Industries Organization in the Ministry of Defense, and 7 other related bodies became involved in such production. Next, the ways in which equipment is smuggled from abroad and the production of various parts are explained. A variety of UAVs used by the IRGC to ignite war and terrorism are then introduced. The second chapter, entitled "Utilization of UAVs," offers a brief overview of how the IRGC has used drones historically, and outlines the various organs that employ UAVs. Among them is the UAV Command under the IRGC Aerospace Force, which has various UAV centers across Iran. It is the most important entity for training and using UAVs. Other military and law enforcement agencies that utilize UAVs are also named in this chapter. In the third chapter, entitled "Using UAVs to incite war and terrorism," the utilization of UAVs for the advancement of terrorist policies and regional meddling by the IRGC's Quds Force is discussed. The Quds Force Intelligence and Training directorates have dedicated certain sections to the production as well as training and export of UAVs to other countries in the region. The IRGC's drone command center was directly involved in the attack on the Saudi Aramco oil refinery. The IRGC also continues to export drones to Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen. UAV parts are flown to these countries in IRGC planes as well as shipped through land crossings, and are subsequently assembled in the host countries. Local mercenaries from these countries receive training at IRGC Aerospace Force locations in Iran.The findings make clear that the reason for the IRGC's focus on the production and use of drones lies in the fundamental military weaknesses of the regime when it comes to modern warfare. On the other hand, the IRGC has used drones, much like its missile program, as an instrument to instigate conflict and terrorism in the region in order to keep the clerical dictatorship in power. Read more

"Veil of Secrecy: Inside Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps" unveils the inner workings of Iran’s most powerful and secretive military force. From covert operations and cyber warfare to proxy militias and economic empires, this book provides a comprehensive analysis of the IRGC’s strategies and influence. Delve into its origins, structure, and global reach to understand how this elite force shapes geopolitics and challenges world order. Essential reading for those seeking to decode Iran’s strategic ambitions and clandestine networks. Read more