Announcing

I have always maintained that the confrontational stance between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran was prompted, promoted and continues to be perpetuated by special interest groups on both sides, all to the detriment of the best interests of both nations.

In spite of all the muscle-flexing and hostile rhetoric by the United States, and the defiantly arrogant posturing by the Iranian administration, there are reasons to believe that a rapprochement between the two countries is attainable in the near future.

The portrayal of Iran as the source of regional instability and a threat to America's ally, Israel, and potentially to the world, has been an essential element in the formulation of America's foreign policies in the Middle East for far too long. It is time to rethink this strategy.

Iran has been rapidly developing its resources, strengths and international connections in the face of economic sanctions by the West, pursued and enforced entirely by the United States, and quite clearly on behest of Israeli interests.

As an unintended consequence of this policy, Iran has been gaining not only the status of an Islamic superpower in the region, but an increasing global recognition, as well.

My travel to Iran, my conversation with a broad spectrum of people, and my observations and experiences there, did not invoke the need in me to redress my views and analyses of the Iranian situation as reflected in the opus of my writings and addresses in the past two decades. If anything, I am now even more convinced that the United States is dealing with an Iran that is justifiably and increasingly considering itself the powerhouse of the Middle East.

This has led me to conclude that America's true strategic and economic interests in the Middle East would best be served through a rapprochement with Iran and the acknowledgement of Iran's own regional and global strategic interests.

If we still need an enemy or a potential source of threat to serve certain other agendas, Pakistan is ready to replace Iran as that bogeyman. And, I believe we are already heading in that direction.

A PDF format Compact-Disc version of the book containing numerous full-color photos of the trip is also available for a nominal fee of $12.00 to cover the costs of reproduction and handling, etc. through the following address:

INTERESTED GROUPS, CLUBS, ACADEMIC CENTERS

I will be available to conduct lectures and seminars
on international affairs with focus on the Middle East
and with special emphasis on the
Iran/United States relations.
For more information please contact me at
kzarrabi@aol.com
Further information, sample DVDs of my lectures,
available dates and fee structure
will be provided upon request.