This thesis examines the nature and the scope of Soviet relations with Iran with particular emphasis on the Iranian Revolution of 1978-79 and the Iranian-Iraqi war which, as of this writing is still in-progress. The analysis focuses on: (1) The importance of Iran to Soviet decision makers in terms of the U.S.S.R.'s security, ideological, cultural, and economic goals in Southwest Asia; (2) The factors which act to constrain Soviet foreign policy in Iran and the Persian Gulf region and; (3) The strategic implications of Soviet policy in Iran for the United States Navy and U.S. national security. This analysis concludes that a superpower confrontation in Iran, although unlikely by design, is distinctly possible due to the volatile nature of Iran and the problems that beset the states of Southwest Asia. (Author).

First Published in 1992 Reconstruction and Regional Diplomacy in the Persian Gulf goes beyond a description of the recent events by analysing the social, political, and economic patterns of interaction between the Gulf states. The argument is strengthened by a consideration of the role of the superpowers in the region’s political discourse, and of religion as a force for a change. Not only do the authors provide an easily accessible basis for explaining the current problems in the region, but they also offer their own, sometimes provocative policy prescriptions. This book is an important read for scholars and researchers of Middle East politics and Middle East history.

The Western media, in particular, has cast Iran variously as an outlaw country or an outcast but seldom as a normal country, as least since the demise of the Shah or Iran. The United States doesn't cotton to countries falling out of its sphere of influence, particularly if they happen to possess substantial oil reserves, as Iran does, and contain important listening posts on Russia. Add to that a fundamentalist Muslim regime, and the result is an outlaw or outcast label. Yet, could Iran perhaps represent the wave of the future for Muslim countries? Does the label itself tell more about the labellers than about Iran? This book presents papers which present facets of Iran's political activities which might not normally reach Western readers.