In what is possibly the most heavily researched and referenced book I've ever read, Trita Parsi has written the diplomatic history of the volatile triangle formed by Israel, Iran, and the U.S. Parsi interviewed a large number of officials from all three countries and in doing so, provides a remarkably detailed account of how these countries worked with and against each other at times from the beginnings of the Cold War, all the way to present day.

At a time when the Middle East seems so volatile, reading Parsi's account shows just how close stability and security actually are. The main theme of the book would have to be that despite what most people would assume from casually observing events, ideology has very little to do with the Israeli-Iranian dispute. Strategic and geopolitical forces are what drive both countries and that as events change, Tel Aviv and Tehran constantly reassess their position via the other. Parsi describes how even immediately after the Iranian revolution, high levels of cooperation between the two countries persisted. Also apparent from Parsi's research is that there is a remarkable amount of consistency in Iran's foreign policy, regardless of the regime. Iran wants to play an important role in the region and is willing to cooperate, but when it's excluded by the U.S. and Israel, it lashes out. The best example of this is Iran's willingness to help the U.S. after 9/11 in Afghanistan, and also its offer in 2003 of a grand compromise with the U.S.

I've read quite a few books on the Middle East over the past several years, many of them phenomenal, but I think I have to place Parsi's book at the top of my list. It is easily the most informed, intelligent, and well-written books about the Middle East I've ever read. I'd be surprised if another book comes along to knock Treacherous Alliance out of the top spot. I always buy books faster than I read them, and I always enjoy looking through my shelves to pick out the book I'll read next, but I would actually take the time to read this book again though, and there are very few books in that category. I make it a point to get through as many books as possible, but this one's worth a second read. I can only hope that Parsi writes more books in the future and that they are widely read. Considering the controversial nature of the subject matter, Parsi remains incredibly detached throughout. At no point does this book come across as polemical, or having an axe to grind, which is also very refreshing.

This book is essential reading for anyone and everyone. Trita Parsi has done an amazing job of researching and tying together the relationship between Iran, Israel, and the United States. You may think you understand the situation or know the background behind the relationships of these countries...but until you read this book, you don't.

Trita Parsi really does do everyone a great service by writing this important book that is very fair, balanced, objective, greatly researched, award-winning, insightful, and highly informative. I wish all the people who talk about Iran and its policies would read this book. It is well written and organized, so if you do not have a lot of time, you can look through the sections you are most concerned with. It must have taken a lot of courage to write about this very controversial and highly sensitive matter. Parsi once again steps up to the plate. Through dialogue and understanding, and examination, through books like this which provide a platform, we can shed light on issues which we cannot dogmatically assert a position on. Trita Parsi's research and painstaking notes, citing of sources, and intellectual integrity that results from that is really inspiring and fresh. This is a must read for people who are concerned, inquisitive, or for anyone who thinks they know what is going on in mid east politics. Things are not as they appear, and Parsi's examination of a position that is taken for granted as true, ie Iran and Israel cannot have a relationship as long as the Islamic Republic is in power, is really torn at the seams by this in-depth analysis. Iran and Israel, for numerous reasons CAN have a working and harmonious relationship. They have in the past, and they can again. People who say differently want war, and to provoke flames for their personal gains and agendas. The key to deciding whether or not a good relationship is possible lies not in 10 second clips of ahmadinejad, but in award-winning highly acclaimed books like this, that provide historical accounts from policy makers, and those involved in the actual shaping of foreign policy events in Iran, Israel, and the US. Buy this book. Then talk like you know what you are saying. And for those who say this book is anti-israel--what a joke! Why would a book that details past alliances, and that suggests there is room for progressive relations, and that details the reasons for such a claim be anti-israel, in fact, it is pro-israel! It could actually assist Israel in forming a policy that more accurately reflects the realities of its relationship, rather than listening to a few very loud and very skewed voices on what Iran's intent it. Iran is Israel's enemy? ok, if you think so, then Israel should get to know its enemy. The same goes for Iran. Just read the book. It fills many gaps in the debate, chances are, unless you were involved in the alliances highlighted in the book, you cannot be informed on the subject without reading it.

I've been reading Treacherous Alliance: The Secret Dealings of Israel, Iran, and the United States by Trita Parsi.

The book details how 3 countries have been sparring with each other calling each other names but also dealing with each other for over 30 years. When the US had an embargo Israel was selling Iran $500 million in arms during the 8 year war with their mutual enemy Iraq.

After 9-11 Iran closed its border to Afghanistan and helped set up the Afghan Govt. The Taleban hate Iran. The Iranians made a secret offer to fund the Afghan army with $400 million, recognize Israel, disarm Hamas and Hezbollah, and give the America 290 Al-Qaeda captives. Cheney and Rumsfeld dismissed the offer by saying we don't talk to the Axis of Evil.

Its distrurbing but interesting reading about how the 3 countries are entwined and misunderstoodTreacherous Alliance: The Secret Dealings of Israel, Iran, and the United States

Anyone who wishes to consider themselves minimally informed about Iran's foreign policy, in particular in regards to Israel and the United States, must read this book.

Parsi argues convincingly that Iran's foreign policy under the theocratic regime, after early ideologically-driven disasters, has been fundamentally rational. The trick is that while their actions have been rational, their rhetoric has often been extreme. This has led to misunderstandings from US leaders in particular.

He relates a history of relations between Iran and Israel that are largely unknown to Americans. Israel and Iran had close--though unofficial--relations with the Shah, which included close military and intelligence cooperation through the 1970s.

Relations went downhill once the ayatollahs took over in the late 1970s. However, the change in Iranian-Israeli relations began well before that, as the Shah saw a need to improve relations with the Arab world. Even so, "underground" relations continued between theocratic Iran and Israel.

Despite being well-informed about world affairs in general, much of this history was new to me. Iran gave the USA substantial aid in deposing the Taliban in Afghanistan after 9/11. Their reward? Being included in the "axis of evil" announced by George Bush a few months later.

A key point Parsi makes is that while Iran wasn't able to avoid being excluded from attempts to set regional power arrangements, or to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, they were successful in sabotaging these attempts, in particular their key role in preventing Israeli-Palestinian rapprochement in the 1990s. They are powerful enough to play a role, even when--or especially when--they're not invited.

In the long view of history, considering Iran's size--and history of being a regional power since well before the arrival of the Greeks and Romans--this shouldn't be surprising. They've been a big country for 3,000 years, and once had an empire from Ethiopia to Greece to India. Iranians remember this, so that at times their actions almost seem reminiscent of the Glenn Close character in the movie Fatal Attraction when she says, "I'm not gonna be ignored."

Parsi's recommendation to nudge Iran into the regional and world system is straight from the "realist" balance-of-power foreign policy school of thought that saw Nixon go to China once he recognized that China could not be "contained" forever, and that basing hostile relations on ideology was not productive.

It is worth trying. The one thing Iran needs more than anything in the world is US recognition, so their incentive is high.

The possible rewards? No nuclear bombs from Iran, and help in solving the Israel-Palestinian conflict. The downside? Iran might say no, or still continue bad behavior. The result of this would be their becoming even more of a pariah state than they are now.

That said, there are a few weak points in the book: Parsi notes that in the early 1990s, Israel began a campaign to convince the US that Iran was dangerous, based on Iranian rhetoric calling for the elimination of Israel. Oddly enough, Israel had earlier advised the US not to pay attention to the rhetoric, because Israel and Iran were cooperation. However, Parsi doesn't note that the ongoing Iranian rhetoric allowed Israel an easy opportunity to exercise this option at any time of their choosing, with a very high likelihood of success.

Also, while he notes that the Iranian rhetoric is often a way to play to the Arab street, thus placing pressuring on Arab leaders to not criticize Iran, he doesn't adequately note the catastrophic effect this rhetoric has on the outside world's perception of Iran.

These are minor quibbles, however, in an excellent book.

The trilateral relationship between Israel, Iran, and the United States is complex. Alas, Treacherous Alliance does not explain it. Based on the Johns Hopkins University doctoral thesis of Trita Parsi, best known as a Washington-based Iran lobbyist who trades on his connections to officials within the Islamic Republic, the narrative wallows in half-truths and conspiracy rather than fact.

Parsi begins, for example, by stating that neoconservatives "desperately wish" for a U.S. war with Iran. Perhaps Commentary founder Norman Podhoretz does, but he is in a minority. Further, Parsi suggests that foreign policy hawks worry about Iran itself, rather than the Islamic Republic's covert nuclear program and terror sponsorship, an obvious mistake.

Basing his research largely on interviews, Parsi picks and chooses what he wants to include. The result is a hodge-podge.

He emphasizes Iranian pragmatism and dismisses the role of ideology. Iranian support for Hezbollah, in his rendering, has more to do with regional power ambition than ideology--this would come as a surprise to Hezbollah, which defines itself in opposition to the Jewish state and whose secretary-general, Hasan Nasrallah, on October 23, 2002, encouraged Jews all to gather in Israel, thereby saving Hezbollah "the trouble of going after them worldwide."[1]

Parsi breaks no new ground in his treatment of the early relationship between Iran and Israel, offering little more than a potted history. He omits the role of Ziama Divon, the first Israeli to visit the shah and Israeli prime minister David Ben-Gurion's confidential assistant.

He treats as a primary source the views of Lawrence Wilkerson, chief-of-staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell, without ever bothering to ask whether Wilkerson has direct knowledge of events he describes. Had Parsi asked, Wilkerson would have had to admit he attended none of the interagency policy meetings and lacks first-hand knowledge of them.

Parsi suggests that in 2003 Tehran offered to disarm Hezbollah, but this is false. He makes much of a freelance proposal by the Swiss ambassador Tim Guldimann in Tehran that did not win the support of the Iranian regime,[2] which at that time was in fact accelerating its support to Hezbollah. This incident suggests that Parsi's Iranian interlocutors view him as a mechanism for disinformation.

Parsi's manipulation of data undercuts his work. He argues that Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's call for Israel to be "wiped off the map" was mistranslated and instead renders the phrase more benignly that Israel should be "eliminated from the pages of history." But the Iranian state-controlled news agency used the former translation.

As documents and correspondence are declassified, Yale University Press will appear foolish for publishing this volume, as will Francis Fukuyama, Parsi's academic adviser, who appears to have been AWOL in his supervisory duties.

Michael Rubin
Middle East Quarterly
Spring 2008

1. Daily Star (Beirut), Oct. 23, 2002.
2. See Michael Rubin, "The Guldimann Memorandum," The Weekly Standard, Oct. 22, 2007.

american people should read this book, everyone. israel is not the angel most people think they are, and they might be interested in knowing how the government works in this covert way around the world, not just in iran

Anyone who attempts to defend the murderous actions of Islam extremists in any way, shape or form is the lowest of the low. This book belongs in the kindling bin. It's unfortunate that this rating system does not allow for NO stars.

This was a very good book. It is a necessary read for anyone who wants a fresh and I believe more accurate assessment of Iran. Anyone formulating Iran policy must read it, if only to hear another reasonable perspective. Despite the rhetoric reported so biasedly in most Western media, and despite the Iranian regime's current unfortunate ideology, whenever the regime's advertised ideology has clashed with it's geopolitical strategy, the latter has ALWAYS prevailed. The "mad mullahs" are not mad enough to risk losing anything. In fact, they are terrified of it. They are now trying to balance ambitions of regional hegemony with forging further entrance into the international community, whilst retaining domestic theocratic control. Iran has evolved since 1979 to a point where the once rigid ideology may now be more flexible. The questions are how much would Iran be willing to flex, and if so, will the World powers accept it as its current Islamic Republic. Unlike one critique earlier, I don't think the author supports the 'Mullahocracy' so much as he seeks to reveal a more objective truth that may prevent unnecessary conflict.

This is a must read book for anyone interested in a thorough examination and understanding of the relationship between Iran, Israel, and the United States and how the relationship between Iran and Israel has historically been defined based on geostrategy rather than ideology from the beginning of the Jewish state.

First a minor correction -- United Nations data shows that Iran's population was about 27 million back in 1967 and not 41 million as stated in chapter 3 under subheading "The 1967 War".

Second a general observation - While not downplaying Dr. Parsi's excellent scholarly work and analysis, it is clearly obvious which audience the book is trying to address or not to offend. For example, in the same chapter on page 33, the former Shah is characterized as someone who was "prone to conspiracy theories" for believing that the U.S. media was controlled by Jewish interests. However, the former Monarch was not entirely alone in that assessment. Former Secretary of State John Foster Dulles was quoted in Donald Neff's book "Fallen Pillars" in February 1957:

"I am aware how almost impossible it is in this country to carry out a foreign policy [in the Middle East] not approved by the Jews..... Terrific control the Jews have over the news media and the barrage the Jews have built up on congressmen.... I am very much concerned over the fact that the Jewish influence here is completely dominating the scene and making it almost impossible to get congress to do anything they don't approve of. The Israeli embassy is practically dictating to the congress through influential Jewish people in the country"

In October 1973, Senator Fullbright, then Chair of Senate Foreign Relations Committee said: "The
Israelis control the policy in the congress and the senate." on CBS' "Face the Nation".

It is also no secret that American media is a Jewish dominated institution that blindly adopts Israel's half-truths, myths, and talking points to ensure that the American public only sees, hears, and reads Israel's viewpoints. Despite such total domination, the Jewish lobby still attacks the media and those few columnists and scholars who dare challenge Israel are ridiculed, intimidated, and immediately labeled as anti-Semitic. Just ask Stephen M. Walt and John J. Mearsheimer.

However, none deters from Dr. Parsi's lucid analysis and contribution towards a better understanding of the relationship between the three countries. After reading this book, I'm optimistic that perhaps underneath all the current idealistic rhetoric that flies in the face of any sane geostrategy, cooler and wiser heads are still pursuing the far more rational policies of the past because at the end of the day, a weakened Israel or Iran as a result of an unnecessary war can only benefit their common enemies in the region.

Excellent source about Iran. Trita Parsi's book is an eye opener for a reader who wishes to get information about Iran's role in the middle east, and relations with the U.S. Media coverage about Iran may not always be as accurate as his book.
The author's sources are quite expansive. He has interviewed our government officials, Israeli and Iranian officials to provide some interesting insights about different events in the relationship between and among these countries. Cited are several failures in our government to open and pursue dialogue for agreement on issues with Iran. For example, in 2003, Iran through the Swiss proposed to meet with U.S. officials to resolve a number of U.S. demands i.e., stop support of terrorist groups. They also offered intelligence on Iraq. This effort was rebuffed by certain U.S. officials.

To see how amazingly accurate Mr. Parsi's arguments are and how well they adhere to reality, all you have to do is simply observe the relationship between Iran and Russia. Now, there is a clear example of how geopolitically driven the Iranian government is. There isn't even anything at the rhetorical level against Russia and how the Chechens are being treated. If Iran truly wanted to be suicidal and flex their idealogical muscle, they would have been training and arming the Chechen rebels. The bomb-Iran brigade will argue that Iran just wants the bomb so badly, they will bend over backwards for Russia. Thus they can drop one bomb on Israel, assuring the complete destruction of Iran and fulfilling some death cult.

This is how the irrational minds of people like Amir Taheri, Michael Rubin, Norman Podhoretz, Michael Ledeen and Mattias Kuntzel function. The disturbing reality is, their 'logic' and fear-mongering rhetoric is all simply based on two quotes; one by Khomieni that never existed and one by Rafsanjani that was cleverly manipulated to appear as if he was advocating a nuclear attack against Israel with a hope for retaliation. Yeah, that's right. The millionaire mullah advocates MAD.

This is why the 'logic' of Taheri, Rubin, Podhoretz, Ledeen and Kuntzel always break down miserably. Article after article, you can see them quoting each other with the same fabrications creating this web of deceit. It's hilarious, but at the same time very troubling. Some people just really need to step back and take a look at some of the harm they are causing.

This book is phenomenal and should be required reading for all the staff in the Whitehouse, especially the office of the VP. They should then have to take a test on it to be permitted to work. This is how serious this book is.

Trita Parsi's timely and relevant treatise about the turbulent relationship between two important Middle Eastern nations, Israel and Iran, and how this has influenced American policies in the region is a work that needs to be read by both policy makers and inquistive minds alike. The complex and often confusing nature of diplomacy and political dealings are carefully examined and objectively presented in this well researched text that answers many puzzling questions which mainstream media elements tend to overlook. The countries of Israel and Iran both have geopolitical interests that have at times paralleled one another and at other times have been diametrically opposed to one another. Parsi dissects the historical framework that has caused these two nations to have a love-hate relationship over the past 50 years and how this has impacted U.S. foreign policy often with counterproductive results for the Middle East region.

Parsi has done a splendid job in researching factual information. Throughout the book, he pays careful attention to detail and provides continuous thought provoking references and citations obtained through a thorough investigative process. The book is devoid of overwhelming emotionalism and blatant subjectivity, two common attributes that are often apparent in most discussions and presentations of Middle Eastern politics. Parsi does not wish to blame any particular nation or group but wishes to inform the reader that double standards and hidden agendas have come into play in the triangualr relationship among Israel, Iran, and the United States.

TREACHEROUS ALLIANCE is a must read for anyone wishing to better understand the intricacies and complexities of Middle Eastern politics, particularly at this critical juncture in history where global conflicts seem unavoidable. Trita Parsi is a genuine scholar whose work can be a ray of hope in a cloud of despair that hovers over a region mired in conflicts but whose peoples aspire for a brighter tommorow.

This book describes a Muslim's view of the relationship of America with the middle east. This is rarely, if ever, given in American press. The facts probably lie somewhere in the middle.

Trita Parsi synthesizes over 120 interviews with top Israeli, Iranian, and American officials into a portrait that illustrates the interests and insecurities of these respective countries both pre/post revolutionary Iran AND during/after the Cold War. Some of the conclusions are very revealing! Despite what some reviewers have said - there is no evidence that Trita Parsi is working for the 'mullacracy'. As supplemental reading, I recommend James Bills "The Eagle and the Lion".

The author has done a fascinating study of the relationship between Iran, Israel (and the united states, to the extent that it relates to the former). The original research, unprecedented access to officials from the 3 countries, and insightful synthesis of the data leads to the best book on this topic currently available.
Given the heated politics surrounding this topic, the book is likely to raise many eye-browse and anger those who want to categorize the world as black and white. It shows how the relationship between Iran and Israel has always been much more nuanced than we may be lead to believe by stereotypes promoted in the media.

Treacherous Alliance: The Secret Dealings of Israel, Iran, and the United States

I am a registered Republican who supported/s both the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. But after reading Trita Parsi's book I find I am opposed to any strike/attack on Iran at this time.

I enjoyed the cultural and geopolitical history of Persia/Iran and their relationship with Persian Jews. I also enjoyed reading about the historical events and dealings between Israel, Iran, and the US during the Shah, Khomanei and current Islamic Theocracy including the Iran/Contra time period.

Most interesting are the sections of the book where he discusses Iran's help to the US during the outbreak of war in Afghanistan in terms of Intel on the Taliban and when we took Baghdad during OIF in terms of their (Iran's) request to open diplomatic talks with Iran who was willing to put "everything" on the table including their ending aid to Hezbollah in southern Lebabnon and Hamas in the West Bank and open monitoring of any and all nuclear/biological/ and/or chemical sites we might be concerned about. Those requests were made to senior current Administration folks through the Swiss Embassy which was ignored.

Essentially this book reveals that war with Iran is not inevitable and how Dipolmacy with Iran could even aid both current wars. Definitely worth a read.

I have written my Congressman and both Senators to ask them or their Staff to read the book.

This book is written by a pro-mullahocracy author who pretends to be an area expert. He holds the same view that most Iranian rgime officials hold: Israel is a religious state run by the jews and it dominates the US policies.

Ridiculous book and not worthy of wasting the time and money. Regret borrowing it from the university library though.

Trita Parsi has written a compelling book, cutting thorough ideological and political propaganda emanating from the three countries he has focused on (US, Israel, and Iran), and going right through the core issues involving geopolitical and regional hegemony aspirations of the three governments. What is fascinating is that Parsi reveals that such political calculations transcend the particular ideology of the governments in these three countries. Whether it is Likud or Labor in Israel, Democrats or Republicans in the US, or The former Shah's regime or the reformists or hardliners of the Islamic government in Iran, the decision making process remarkably follows more or less the same logic, and the same priorities are at play. When a shift in policy takes place, Parsi reveals that again the political faction of the government involved is irrelevant. In fact, amazingly, the very same people who were advocating one set of policies, often advance a diametrically opposite set a few years later. Parsi underlines this point by revealing how Israeli Labor leaders, the late Itzhak Rabin and Shimon Perez were lobbying the Reagan administration to disregard virulent rhetoric from Iran and try to open up channels of communication with them, while just a few years later these two men were warning about the Iranian menace in every domestic and international speech. He points out how the neo-conservatives dominating the Bush administration were the very same people who were advocating supporting Iran in the Iran-Iraq war and opening channels in the eighties in the Reagan administration. And how the former hostage takers in Iran are now mostly leading liberals advocating negotiations and moderation in Iranian policies.

Parsi narrates this story in a linear historical context, starting his book from 1948 when Israel was created all the way to present day (summer of 2007). The central theme of the book is that before 1991, Iran and Israel were natural allies, while afterwards (which was coincident with the fall of Soviet Union and defeat of Iraqi President Saddam Hossein's invasion of Kuwait and his subsequent weakenining) the two countries became rivals and perceived each other as threats.

The main shortcoming of the book as I see it, is that while Parsi underlies the geopolitical underpinnings of the triangular relationship of Iran, Israel and the US, very little is mentioned in terms of economic reasons for these "treacherous" alliances and rivalries. What corporations or industries benefit from continued hostilities between Iran and the US and which ones benefit, and how much influence and clout each has on the direction of the US policies? Who benefits in Iran for continued belligerence towards Israel or towards the US, and who is hurt, and how much influence they have on the Iranian government? Some economic analysis is given for Israel's attitude towards Iran: Oil investments and sales from Iranian side, and military sales and training from the Israeli side when relations were good; and an Arab-Israeli common market in the Middle East (which would exclude Iran) when relations were bad. But these economic incentives are treated as secondary at best. I wish more and deeper economic analysis was presented from Iranian and American, as well as Israeli perspectives.

All in all I recommend this book strongly and advise that anyone, right-wingers who advocate military action against Iran (Israeli or American) or moderates advocating political dialog and negotiated approach should educate themselves by reading this book before further opining on US or Israel policies vis-a-vis Iran.

Unlike the first reviewer who obviously didn't even skim the book, I would attest that this revealing and insightful book is brimming with historical facts, anecdotes, and analysis that simply can not be found elsewhere. (The author interviewed dozens of high-ranking Israeli, American, and Iranian officials inside Israel and Iran - the analysis never comes across as conjecture)

The basic premise of the book, based on over 130 first-hand interviews with the highest ranking officials in all three countries, is that the basic geo-political and national interest concerns of Iran and Israel have guided their foreign policy from one of convergence to divergence.

It further paints a clear picture of why the conventional wisdom regarding the dominance of an ideological driving force in their bilateral dealings is a false one - and shows how it can and has lead to miscalculations in the United States' foreign policy in the region.

The book is also a very easy read for those unfamiliar with the intricacies of international relations yet manages to provide a ton of new facts and anecdotes for even the most ardent student of modern middle eastern political history.

I highly recommend this book to any and all who are curious about Iran and Israel's role in the middle east over the next few decades, particularly with the heightened tensions that seem to point to a military conflict in the near term.

From the cover of the book, which sensationalistically includes the Ayatollah and religious Jews at the western wall, this book proceeds to posit an extreme and rediculous theory that Iran and Israel 'manipulate' the United States as they try to 'dominate' the Middle East.

First of all the cover and various statements in the book imply that Judaism as a religion is somehow in competition with Iranian/Persian Shiism. This is a far fetched argument given the fact that every Prime Minister and President of Israel has been secular, not Orthodox, while Iran since the 1980s is specifically modelled on a theocracy where women are ordered to dress a certain way. Religion permeates everyday life in Iran in a way it does not in Israel, hangings, stonings and anti-gay and anti-abrotion laws are merely the tip of the ice berg.

But the idea that Israel and Iran are secretly colluding is so far fethed as to be laughable. The author implies that Iran's development of nuclear weapons is 'pragmatic' and that Ahmadinjed's outburts about 'whiping Israel from the map' or his conference on Holocaust denial, is merely 'realpolitik.' The outdated references to Iran-Contra, when Israel, the U.S and Iran actually were part of a triangle of financial dealings, is used as 'evidence' of the situation in 2006, which ignored the last 20 years of history between the three powers.

Seth J. Frantzman

Based on exclusive interviews, new information, and gritty investigative work, Trita Parsi's book provides the evidence anyone on President George W. Bush's team should look at to rationally understand why confrontation between the US and Iran is NOT inevitable.

This masterpiece demonstrates fresh analysis and keeps up with Dr. Parsi's proven credibility here in Washington for objectively and (at times) unconventionally calling out developments in the US-Iranian relationship, regardless of which neoconservatives or pro-war hawks might cringe.

Treacherous Alliance is tightly written and readable for all levels of the public who are moderately informed and interested in foreign policy. Academics will mine through the numerous exclusive quotes provided and timeless high-level quotes obtained, as well as the many pages of footnotes (and even leaked documents!) for those looking to do spinoff research and analysis.

At a time when drumbeats by DC policy dead-enders persist for a new military confrontation with Iran, finally a credible, air-tight book arrives to preempt their arguments for the next global disaster.

For those who don't read Dr. Parsi's book, fortunately the major American and international news outlets, including CNN, BBC, and al-Jazeera are on to him and host him as a frequent guest expert.

This book deserves a Pulitzer.

From the cover of the book, which sensationalistically includes the Ayatollah and religious Jews at the western wall, this book proceeds to posit an extreme and rediculous theory that Iran and Israel 'manipulate' the United States as they try to 'dominate' the Middle East.

First of all the cover and various statements in the book imply that Judaism as a religion is somehow in competition with Iranian/Persian Shiism. This is a far fetched argument given the fact that every Prime Minister and President of Israel has been secular, not Orthodox, while Iran since the 1980s is specifically modelled on a theocracy where women are ordered to dress a certain way. Religion permeates everyday life in Iran in a way it does not in Israel, hangings, stonings and anti-gay and anti-abrotion laws are merely the tip of the ice berg.

But the idea that Israel and Iran are secretly colluding is so far fethed as to be laughable. The author implies that Iran's development of nuclear weapons is 'pragmatic' and that Ahmadinjed's outburts about 'whiping Israel from the map' or his conference on Holocaust denial, is merely 'realpolitik.' The outdated references to Iran-Contra, when Israel, the U.S and Iran actually were part of a triangle of financial dealings, is used as 'evidence' of the situation in 2006, which ignored the last 20 years of history between the three powers.

Seth J. Frantzman