CONFLICTED Iran: The Long Road to War
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Mar 12, 2026 
Ali Ansari, Professor of Modern Middle East History at the University of St Andrews, discusses Iran's deep cultural roots and his childhood ties to the Shah's court. He explores the revolution's mismanagement of state institutions, corruption and the IRGC's growing power. He also examines the limits of the nuclear deal, Iran's diplomatic choices, and how ordinary Iranians view the regime and war.
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Economic Failure Comes From Within
- The Islamic Republic inherited a modern state but adopted personalized, opaque economic practices and rejected institutional reform, producing chronic mismanagement.
- Ansari traces today's failures—electricity, water table collapse, inflation—back to kleptocracy and policy choices, not just sanctions.
Don’t Expect Investment Without Transparency
- If sanctions are lifted, foreign firms will still avoid Iran unless transparency and legal accountability improve.
- Ansari points to Iran's FATF blacklisting and lack of company registers as structural barriers to investment.
Backing Russia Cost Iran European Leverage
- Iran's close alignment with Russia over Ukraine cost it European sympathy and undermined its previous westward balancing strategy.
- Ansari calls Iran's support for Russia a 'cataclysmic mistake' that removed diplomatic levers for easing pressure.