In this timely report, a bipartisan group of experts concludes that the Islamic Republic is solidly entrenched and that the urgency of the concerns around Iran's policies mandates that Washington deal with the current regime rather than wait it out. The Task Force-chaired by former National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski and former Director of Central Intelligence Robert M. Gates recommends selective engagement with Tehran to promote regional stability, dissuade Iran from pursuing nuclear weapons, preserve reliable energy supplies, reduce the threat of terror, and address the democracy deficit that pervades the Middle East as a whole. This volume includes a chronology of important dates in U.S.-Iranian history, economic and demographic facts about Iran, plus reference materials on Iranian state institutions and governance. The report's recommendations have sparked debate in Washington and generated extensive coverage by the U.S. and international media.

Council on Foreign Relations. Independent Task Force on U.S. Policy toward Iran; Brzezinski, Zbigniew, 1928-2017; Gates, Robert Michael, 1943-; Maloney, Suzanne

Zbigniew Brzezinski; Robert Michael Gates; Suzanne Maloney

Robert M. Gates, Zbigniew K. Brzezinski, Suzanne Maloney

New York: Council on Foreign Relations

United States, United States of America

1st US - 1st Printing, PT, 2004

New York, New York State, 2004

November 2004

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Also available online at the Council's Web site in PDF format

84 pages : 22 cm
Over the past quarter century, relations between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran have been trapped by legacies of the past. The aftermath of the 1979 revolution transformed Iran from a staunch ally into one of the most intractable opponents of the United States in the region and beyond. Today, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have positioned American troops along Iran's borders, making the United States and Iran wary competitors and neighbors who nonetheless possess some overlapping interests. All of this is occurring against a backdrop of the problems posed by Iran's nuclear program and its involvement with terrorism. Clearly, contending with Iran will constitute one of the most complex and pressing challenges facing the next U.S. administration. The Council on Foreign Relations established this Independent Task Force to consider both Iran's domestic reality and its foreign policy and to examine ways the United States can foster a relationship with Iran that better protects and promotes American interests in a critical part of the world
Map of the Islamic Republic of Iran. -- Executive summary. -- Task force report. Introduction ; Why Iran matters ; Iran's domestic dilemmas ; Iran's approach to the world ; Iran's nuclear programs ; Involvement with regional conflicts ; Recent U.S. policy toward Tehran ; Assessments and recommendations. -- Additional and dissenting views. -- Task force members. -- Task force observers. -- Appendix A: Important dates in U.S.-Iranian history. -- Appendix B: Iran at a glance. -- Appendix C: Iranian state institutions and political actors

In this timely report, a bipartisan group of experts concludes that the Islamic Republic is solidly entrenched and that the urgency of the concerns around Irans policies mandates that Washington deal with the current regime rather than wait it out. The Task Forceco-chaired by former National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski and former Director of Central Intelligence Robert M. Gatesrecommends selective engagement with Tehran to promote regional stability, dissuade Iran from pursuing nuclear weapons, preserve reliable energy supplies, reduce the threat of terror, and address the democracy deficit that pervades the Middle East as a whole. This volume includes a chronology of important dates in U.S.-Iranian history, economic and demographic facts about Iran, plus reference materials on Iranian state institutions and governance. The reports recommendations have sparked debate in Washington and generated extensive coverage by U.S. and international media.

2023-06-28