Dr. Walid Phares is an American scholar of Lebanese descent and an expert on global terrorism and Middle Eastern affairs. He was born on December 24, 1957 and immigrated to the United States in 1990. He holds undergraduate degrees in Law, Political Science, and Sociology from Saint Joseph University and the Lebanese University in Beirut.  He obtained a Master’s Degree in International Law from the Université de Lyon in France and a PhD in International Relations and Strategic Studies from the University of Miami. He is currently a professor and commentator at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. where he teaches Global Strategies. 

Tehran’s meddling in its neighbors’ affairs particularly its most destructive role in Iraq, expanding military influence in the region through backing of terrorist networks, destabilizing moderate Arab states, intervening in Bahrain, training and arming Hezbollah in Lebanon, and backing Hawthi insurgents in Yemen are among the topics Dr. Phares discusses in his book. He also examines the Iranian regime’s involvement in Syria’s civil war, and discusses the Iranian resistance role as the Achilles’ heel of the regime. 

On dealing with Iran’s threat, Dr. Phares recommends the U.S. administration to reconstruct its policy and focus on regime change in Iran via “coherent and systematic support” of the Iranian opposition. He urges the administration to politically recognize the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) and its allies in the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). He also recommends the administration to invite the opposition movement leaders to the White House and Congress and grant them moral and political support.

On the nuclear deal with Iran, the author recommends the U.S. administration to maintain current sanctions on the regime and consult with the Congress seeking their approval if such an accord is reached with Tehran.