The 1979 Islamic Revolution triggered a cold war between Iran and the United States – former fast friends. Despite the US’s relentless efforts at containment, Iran has risen as a formidable power in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and Gaza. Its newfound status not only frustrates the US but has swiftly become a thorn in the side of Israel and Saudi Arabia. How did Iran rise so rapidly and as it faces ever increasing pressure at home and abroad, can it hold onto its power?  Iran is weaker now than it has been since the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, in … Continue reading Iran’s Rise and fall