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    "Karim Sadjadpour"
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Source: Getty

In The Media

How Iranians See Their Country

Thirty years after its Islamic revolution, Iran is still in flux. Experts discuss common American misperceptions about Iran, the role of Iranian youth in domestic politics, and Iran's electoral process.

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By Karim Sadjadpour
Published on Feb 13, 2009
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Middle East

The Middle East Program in Washington combines in-depth regional knowledge with incisive comparative analysis to provide deeply informed recommendations. With expertise in the Gulf, North Africa, Iran, and Israel/Palestine, we examine crosscutting themes of political, economic, and social change in both English and Arabic.

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Source: NPR.org

Thirty years after its Islamic revolution, Iran is still in flux: Its economy is hurting; the struggle between social and economic reforms and the status quo endures; and a new U.S. administration is rethinking its approach to its long-time antagonist.

NPR's Steve Inskeep held a live chat session with Carnegie's Karim Sadjadpour, Azadeh Moaveni and Hooman Madj about Iranian attitudes toward their country. Topics included common American misperceptions about Iran, the role of Iranian youth in domestic politics, and Iran's electoral process as it prepares for presidential elections in June.
 

About the Author

Karim Sadjadpour

Senior Fellow, Middle East Program

Karim Sadjadpour is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where he focuses on Iran and U.S. foreign policy toward the Middle East.

    Recent Work

  • Q&A
    Iran Wanted to Survive the War. Now What?

      Suzanne Maloney, Aaron David Miller, Karim Sadjadpour

  • Q&A
    What’s Keeping the Iranian Regime in Power—for Now

      Aaron David Miller, Karim Sadjadpour, Robin Wright

Karim Sadjadpour
Senior Fellow, Middle East Program
Karim Sadjadpour
Political ReformForeign PolicyMiddle EastIran

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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