How Iran Won the West
What explains the Iranian state’s remarkable soft power? The answer lies in its rich – and often romanticised – history.
Ali Ansari
On the Spot: Ali Ansari
‘What is the most common misconception about my field? That it’s a sideshow of a sideshow.’
The Fall of Isfahan
In March 1722 rebellious Afghan forces laid siege to the Safavid capital. Was the great Iranian empire on the brink of collapse?
Iran and the ‘Old Enemy’
Relations between Iran and Britain have often been strained. Yet the relationship is an old one, marked by mutual admiration.