The Arnold A. Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies presents:
Book Talk: Enduring Hostility: The Making of America’s Iran Policy
A discussion of Dalia Dassa Kayes’ book and the ongoing war with Iran
Wednesday, Sept 23, 2026
3pm-4pm
1302 IAB
With Dalia Dassa Kaye, Senior Fellow, Burkle Center for International Relations, University of California, Los Angeles
Moderated by Stacie Goddard, Director, Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies
Book Description:
US–Iran hostility has endured for almost as long as the Cold War. Momentous geopolitical shifts, changing leaderships, and evolving domestic priorities have not fundamentally altered this antagonistic relationship. Standard explanations pin the blame for this enduring hostility on Iran and its leaders' revolutionary ideology and policies at odds with the United States and the West. While Iran bears significant blame for a deeply adversarial relationship—the country often engages in dangerous and repressive activities—this book demonstrates that "it's them, not us" accounts cannot alone explain America's posture toward this complicated but critically important country.
Drawing on original interviews with former government officials, oral histories, memoirs, congressional hearings, archival material, and the author's own participation in dozens of Iran-related track two meetings, Dalia Dassa Kaye deftly explores how America's Iran policy is made, the people who make it, and the underlying ideas and perceptions that inform it. Dassa Kaye looks back at US policy toward Iran over the past four decades to help us look ahead, offering wider lessons for understanding American foreign policymaking and providing critical insights at a pivotal time of heightened military tensions in and around the Middle East.
Note on campus access: Access to Columbia's campus is currently limited to current students, faculty, and staff. Alumni can register for same day access using this link. If you have any questions concerns about campus or event accessibility, please email Saltzman Institute Coordinator OG Grinberg at [email protected].
