Iran: The Essential Guide to a Country on the Brink

On 6/24/2005, after nearly 10 years of supporting liberal reform, the people of Iran surprised the world by electing the conservative mayor of Tehran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, as their new president. Soon after, the new president announced Iran would restart its uranium enrichment program, drawing international criticism & condemnation from leaders in Europe & the USA. Many observers suspect it’s the desire to produce not nuclear energy but nuclear weapons that lies behind Iran’s controversial decision. Ever since President George W. Bush described Iran, Iraq & N. Korea as the “Axis of Evil,” Iran has garnered increased international attention & threatens to become the new focus of European & American foreign policy. Now you can have at your fingertips up-to-date, must-know details on this complex, pivotal country–straight from one of the most trusted sources of information around the globe. The 1st in a new series from Encyclopedia Britannica, Iran presents a balanced, sophisticated examination of Iran’s social, cultural & political landscape, past & present. From the constitutional revolution to the hostage crisis to weapons of mass destruction, this thoro guide provides the necessary background to comprehend all the important, ongoing issues surrounding this enigmatic country. Information on such leaders as Cyrus the Great & Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi, as well as on historical events like the Iran-Contra Affair & the Iran-Iraq War, place current developments into the broader context of world history, the Muslim world, the War on Terror & the push for democratic reform in the Middle East. Every concise entry–from Afghanistan & Ayatollah Khomeini to Shari’ah law & the Shah–promotes the deeper understanding of issues & events that only Britannica can provide. Since 1768, Encyclopedia Britannica has been a leading provider of learning products & a trusted source of information.