Twentieth century Iran's political prisoners

The article overviews the emergence and development of the nomenclature of nationalist Turkish male first names which had to a considerable extent superseded the traditional religiously motivated names and discusses the cultural and political background of this process. Demonstrating its “catastrophical success”, the article contributes to the literature on the nationalization of private lives and spheres.     

Iran's Financial Stake in Caspian Oil

Since the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991, the questions of how to divide the Caspian Sea and transport its oil and gas have not been resolved and have become more problematic because of outside interference. It is in Iran's financial interest to take the initiative and either accept a smaller section of the Caspian Sea—if guaranteed the opportunity to participate in the transport of its hydrocarbons—or propose an Iranian solution of creating a joint Caspian oil and gas company that would get the hydrocarbons out more quickly and efficiently.     

The JCPOA: how Iran's grand strategy stifled the US

The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) provided a poignant example of how Iran successfully pursued a unique grand strategy that was established following, and had evolved since, the 1979 Revolution. As a result, Tehran was able to stifle attempts by Washington, DC to influence domestic Iranian affairs. In this context, this article argues that Iran's grand strategy juggled a commitment to the regime's revolutionary mantra, formed in 1979, and a pragmatic approach to pursuing national interests. This is accomplished by analyzing the foundation and evolution of Iran's grand strategy, and where the US fits in this dynamic. By focusing on the negotiations leading up to and the eventual signing of the JCPOA, this article sheds light on how Iran's grand strategy was formulated, what constitutes the main drivers and barriers to the strategy, and indeed how this manifested itself in the US–Iran relationship context.