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- Dates: Thursdays, April 2, 9, 16 & 23
- Time: 10:30-Noon ET
- This four-lecture series explores the history of the modern Islamic Republic of Iran. It traces the country’s trajectory from the overthrow of the Shah in 1979 through decades of political upheaval, revolutionary ideology, war, and internal dissent, culminating in the wave of mass protests that began in 2009 and the conflict with the United States that erupted in 2026. The course examines the long and often tense relationship between Iran and the US, marked by periods of both cold and direct confrontation. Particular attention will be given to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, its support for militant proxy groups across the Middle East, and its role in international terrorism. Along the way, we will explore the influence of pivotal figures such as Ruhollah Khomeini, Ali Khamenei, and the politically resilient Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Finally, the series considers Iran’s uncertain future: the pressures for reform within Iranian society, the durability of the revolutionary regime, and the prospects for a more democratic Iran—one no longer defined by religious authoritarianism, repression, and international isolation.