Introduction to Roundtable on Iran Crisis

The cacophony of voices discussing and debating the merits of sanctions against, negotiations with, and war on Iran has been deafening.  For two years the expanding sanctions regime has been presented as an alternative to conflict, while it threatens to be a mere prelude to war. The only remaining question being who would attack Iran on account of its purported nuclear weapons program.  Largely absent from this debate has been analysis based on knowledge of Iranian politics and history. With this in mind, Jadaliyya has turned to two experts of Iranian politics and society to reflect on the prospects and eventual consequence of military confrontation, and the challenges confronting meaningful negotiations.

Roundtable on Iran Crisis, Part 1: War on Iran in 2012? by Eric Hooglund

Roundtable on Iran Crisis, Part 2: On Attacking Iran, by Farideh Farhi