The Iran Wars

Spy Games, Bank Battles, and the Secret Deals That Reshaped the Middle East

By: Jay Solomon

Narrated by: Rob Shapiro

Length: 11 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

From Qasem Soleimani to the nuclear deal, a deeply reported exploration of Iran’s decades-long power struggle with the United States - in the tradition of Steve Coll’s Ghost Wars and Lawrence Wright’s The Looming Tower

“A front-row view of the spy games, assassinations, political intrigue and high-stakes diplomacy that have defined relations with one of America’s most cunning and dangerous foes.” (Joby Warrick, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS)

For more than a decade, the United States has been engaged in a war with Iran as momentous as any other in the Middle East - a war all the more significant as it has largely been hidden from public view. Through a combination of economic sanctions, global diplomacy, and intelligence work, successive US administrations have struggled to contain Iran’s aspirations to become a nuclear power and dominate the region - what many view as the most serious threat to peace in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Iran has used regional instability to its advantage to undermine America’s interests. The Iran Wars is an absorbing account of a battle waged on many levels - military, financial, and covert.

Jay Solomon’s book is the product of extensive in-depth reporting and interviews with all the key players in the conflict - from high-ranking Iranian officials to Secretary of State John Kerry and his negotiating team. With a reporter’s masterly investigative eye and the narrative dexterity of a great historian, Solomon shows how Iran’s nuclear development went unnoticed for years by the international community only to become its top security concern. He catalogs the blunders of both the Bush and Obama administrations as they grappled with how to engage Iran, producing a series of both carrots and sticks. And he takes us inside the hotel suites where the 2015 nuclear agreement was negotiated, offering a frank assessment of the uncertain future of the US-Iran relationship.

This is a book rife with revelations, from the secret communications between the Obama administration and the Iranian government to dispatches from the front lines of the new field of financial warfare. The Iran Wars exposes the hidden history of a conflict whose outcome could have far-reaching geopolitical implications.

©2016 Jay Solomon (P)2016 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"The use of the word 'wars,' plural, in the title of this illuminating book tells the story: US-Iranian relations have been troubled for many years. This deeply researched account of negotiations and their implications makes an important contribution to understanding the short- and long-term consequences of how we manage this difficult relationship." (George P. Shultz, former secretary of state)

"An illuminating, deeply reported account from one of the best journalists writing about the Middle East today. Jay Solomon's The Iran Wars offers a front-row view of the spy games, assassinations, political intrigue and high-stakes diplomacy that have defined relations with one of America's most cunning and dangerous foes." (Joby Warrick, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS)

"Wall Street Journal chief foreign affairs correspondent [Jay] Solomon offers an evenhanded look at the backdoor schemes involving the building of Iran's nuclear weapons and the world players involved in and against its machinations...." (Kirkus Reviews)

Solid recounting by knowledgeable writer

A very fair account given the perceived conservative bias of the WSJ that Solomon writes for. This recounts the successes and failures of our decades old relationship with Iran and leaves one with an understanding of both sides. Well worth the time.

Insightful

This work paints a broader picture of the conflicting interests of Iran and the U.S. The DIME IOPs are all at work here.

An important history of the Iran Nuclear Deal

This important book chronicles the history of US/Iranian relations since the 1979 revolution and does an excellent job of describing the amazingly complex process that resulted in the Iran nuclear deal. It is a far from perfect agreement and only time will tell if it will serve its purpose of opening up Iran, preventing nuclear proliferation and stopping a war in the Mideast. This book also describes how interrelated, complex and difficult the process was to bring Iran to the bargaining table. The ability to bring our allies, especially Europe, on board with tremendous banking sanctions coupled with balancing diplomacy with our other allies (Saudi Arabia, Oman, Israel, etc.) makes one hope that he best of the best can direct our countries towards peace in the coming years. Mr. Solomon was a participant as a journalist and historian during these years and his views are important and well written.

great and accurate historical Of Iran

perfect historical recent of Iran. interested to read more of this author. It is great

Scholarly Work

Good Book but definitely more of a historical scholarly work than one meant for entertainment

Interesting and Insightfull Without Anti-US Bias

What did you love best about The Iran Wars?

Well substantiated story without opinion. Allows the reader to develop his own opinion regarding US policy to countering Iran. Very interesting to learn about the strategy behind economic sanctions and the manner in which they are implemented.

Great Overview into a chaotic arena

Solomon provides a brief historical overview of the events leading up to the controversial nuclear agreement with Iran. This book only helped to stir even more interest on this infamous agreement.

A book lending exceptional context and background

A book lending exceptional context concerning a set of extremely difficult issues. Well researched and well written.

Inside to the Iran-US relations

Excellent in-debt book! What the media doesn't tell about the two countries relationship with each other.

Iran demystified

What made the experience of listening to The Iran Wars the most enjoyable?

The inner details of complex international negotiations were revealed in an engaging manner.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The author being a professional journalist has covered the story thoroughly. Its an ongoing episode and the longterm repercussions are not fully understood. History would decide the winners and losers.

Which scene was your favorite?

All scenes related to negotiations that lasted close to three years.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Green Movement