'Hurst's book is a valuable summary of all the main strands of theoretical explorations into the Cold War policy of the United States. Ideal as an advanced undergraduate or postgraduate reader.' Political Studies Review The history of American policy towards the Iranian nuclear programme This book provides a critical overview of American efforts to prevent Iran from building nuclear weapons. Steven Hurst traces the development of the crisis in a wider historical context from the conception of Iran's nuclear programme under the Shah to the signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2015. Emphasising the centrality of domestic politics in decision-making on both sides, the book adopts a broader perspective on the Iranian nuclear programme and explains the continued failure of the USA to halt it. The analysis reveals how President Obama's alterations to the American strategy, accompanied by shifts in Iranian domestic politics, finally brought about a resolution. Steven Hurst is a Reader in Politics at Manchester Metropolitan University. He is the author of several books, including The United States and Iraq since 1979: Hegemony, Oil and War and Cold War US Foreign Policy: Key Perspectives. Cover image: Washington DC, 2015 (c) Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Cover design: [EUP logo] edinburghuniversitypress.com ISBN 978-0-7486-8263-8 Barcode