Describes how the country has managed to survive despite ongoing domestic struggles, Western sanctions, and countless other serious challenges. The author explores Iran's recent history, beginning with the revolution, which set in motion a number of developments, including war with Iraq, precarious relations with Arab neighbors, and hostilities with Israel and the United States. Saikal highlights the regime's agility as it navigated a complex relationship with Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion, survived the Gulf Wars, and handled fallout from the Iraqi and Syrian crises