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    Going to Tehran by Flynt Leverett: Iran-US Relations Analysis

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    Apr 17, 2026
    PoliticsHistorySociety

    Explore Flynt Leverett's 'Going to Tehran' for a deep dive into Iran-US relations, Middle East foreign policy, and the history of diplomacy with Iran.

    Going to Tehran by Flynt Leverett: Iran-US Relations Analysis

    Best quote from Going to Tehran by Flynt Leverett: Iran-US Relations Analysis

    “

    The United States is currently sleepwalking toward a disaster because it refuses to come to terms with Iran as it actually is, rather than how we wish it to be. We must decide if we can separate our moral disapproval from our strategic necessity to forestall a catastrophe that could dwarf the Iraq debacle.

    ”

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    Going to Tehran by Flynt Leverett

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    Knowledge sources
    Going to Tehran: Why the United States Must Come to Terms With the Islamic Republic of Iran | Foreign Affairs
    link
    https://www.foreignaffairs.com/reviews/capsule-review/2013-02-18/going-tehran-why-united-states-must-come-terms-islamic-republic
    Going To Which Iran? | Flynt Leverett, Hillary Mann Leverett, Roger ...
    link
    https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2013/07/11/going-which-iran/
    Busted Stuff: America's Disastrous Iran Policy
    link
    https://nationalinterest.org/feature/busted-stuff-americas-disastrous-iran-policy-12500
    The Leveretts get Iran all wrong – Foreign Policy
    link
    https://foreignpolicy.com/2009/05/27/the-leveretts-get-iran-all-wrong
    Book details
    link
    https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250043535

    Frequently Asked Questions

    In 'Going to Tehran,' Flynt Leverett and Hillary Mann Leverett provide a comprehensive analysis of Iran-US relations. The work challenges conventional wisdom regarding Middle East foreign policy and argues for a fundamental shift in how the United States engages with the Islamic Republic. By examining Iranian history and the internal logic of its political system, the authors advocate for a grand bargain and a move toward genuine diplomacy to stabilize the region.

    Flynt Leverett suggests that current Iran-US relations are often hindered by a misunderstanding of Tehran's strategic goals and domestic stability. He argues that the United States has frequently relied on failed policies of pressure and isolation rather than realistic diplomacy. Through his analysis, Leverett emphasizes that recognizing the legitimacy of the Iranian government is a necessary step for any successful long-term Middle East foreign policy strategy.

    The book is co-authored by Flynt Leverett and Hillary Mann Leverett, both of whom are seasoned experts in Middle East foreign policy and Iranian history. They have served in high-level positions within the U.S. government, including the National Security Council. Their unique insider perspective allows them to critique existing diplomatic frameworks and offer a detailed roadmap for improving Tehran diplomacy based on historical precedents and geopolitical realities.

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    Key Takeaways

    1

    The Myth of the Mad Mullah and the Cost of Ignorance

    0:00
    0:56
    1:47
    2

    Beyond the Caricature of an Irrational State

    2:54
    3:45
    4:33
    5:17
    3

    The 2009 Election and the Battle for the Truth

    6:10
    6:55
    7:47
    8:35
    4

    The Nuclear Program as a Strategic Equalizer

    9:36
    10:19
    11:10
    11:55
    5

    The Illusion of Isolation and the Reality of Rising Influence

    12:52
    13:38
    14:24
    15:05
    6

    The Ghost of 1972 and the Need for a Nixonian Moment

    16:03
    16:48
    17:33
    18:21
    7

    Deconstructing the "Twilight War" and the Media’s Role

    19:18
    20:02
    20:48
    21:26
    8

    The High Cost of the "Dual Track" Stalemate

    22:13
    22:51
    23:32
    24:07
    9

    A Playbook for Rethinking Regional Reality

    24:48
    25:29
    25:53
    26:25
    10

    Reflections on a World Beyond Hegemony

    27:04
    27:38
    28:10
    28:40

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