Republics of Myth: National Narratives and the US-Iran Conflict
By Hussein Banai, Malcolm Byrne, John Tirman (Johns Hopkins, 2022)
“By drawing on a broad range of primary and secondary material and utilizing diverse methodological and analytic perspectives this book offers an in-depth survey of different aspects of US-Iran relations. A timely publication and welcome addition to scholarship.” – Ali Gheissari, University of San Diego
“Republics of Myth is an outstanding and balanced review of the difficult relationship between Americans and Iranians. Based on unique research, this timely book addresses the grievances of both sides and pays special attention to the Iran-Iraq War.” – Bruce O. Riedel, Brookings Institution
“This is a detailed, enlightening history of the troubled U.S.-Iran relationship since World War II, which explains why these two countries' adversarial national narratives persist, based on documents and discussions with and among some of the decision makers on both sides of the divide. A thoroughly engrossing read.” – Joost R. Hiltermann, author of A Poisonous Affair: America, Iraq, and the Gassing of Halabja
"[A] very valuable study ... Well-researched and engagingly written, Republics of Myth is essential reading for anyone interested in Iran policy and U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East more broadly. [It] could not be timelier.” – Daniel Larison in Responsible Statecraft
Worlds Apart: A Documentary History of US-Iranian Relations, 1978-2018
By Malcolm Byrne and Kian Byrne
(Cambridge, 2021)
“Four decades ago, Iran and the US substituted a close relationship for marked hostility. Byrne and Byrne have brought together in this book a collection of as key documents that mark major turning points--and the viewpoints of the principal actors--of these tumultuous decades. "World's Apart," the title the authors chose for their fascinating collection, is strikingly apt. Their book is a significant contribution to the study of U. S. Iranian relationship since the Islamic revolution.” – Haleh Esfandiari, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
“The documentary record assembled in this book is an important addition to our understanding of how US – Iran relations have evolved over the past four decades … By injecting primary sources into the Iran debate, Worlds Apart allows us to see things as they are, as opposed to how we wished them to be.” – Ray Takeyh, Survival
“Through a series of significant documents, expertly given context in an accessible fashion, Byrne and Byrne offer both novices and old hands a unique and reliable tracing of the difficult, often muddled and damaging, history of US-Iran relations during and since the revolution.” – Farideh Farhi, University of Hawai’i at Manoa
“It's not a pretty story, but it should be required reading to understand how our two countries have been stuck on a road to nowhere for forty years. It's all here: the ignorance, the obliviousness, and the insights ignored. Thanks to the authors for giving us the raw material of history free of biases and personal agendas.” – John Limbert, U.S. State Department, retired
“An excellent collection of documents covering all of the major issues in US-Iran relations during the past 40 years with introductory material that provides essential context. Will be an essential reference source for anyone interested in this important topic.” – Mark Gasiorowski, Tulane University
Iran-Contra: Reagan’s Scandal & the Unchecked Abuse of Presidential Power
By Malcolm Byrne (Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas, 2014, 464 pp; paperback, 2017.)
"Choice Outstanding Academic Title"
"A high-quality, meticulously researched book that sheds much light on a controversy that, nearly three decades ago, shook the American political system to its core." – Wall Street Journal
"[T]he foremost scholarly history of the scandal." – Oxford Research Encyclopedia of American History
"A riveting book about a remarkable scandal and a warning about the excesses of secrecy and partisanship in American foreign policy." – Bruce Riedel
"At last, the Iran-Contra affair has a comprehensive history worthy of the scandal ... Malcolm Byrne has told this complex story in brilliant fashion." – Seymour M. Hersh
“This book reopens the vitally important argument over Ronald Reagan's presidency — particularly, as Malcolm Byrne asserts with his use of many newly available documents, that Reagan was not passive, but "the driving force" behind the unconstitutional and embarrassing scheme ...” – Walter LaFeber
“This book should be read as the definitive volume on the Iran-Contra scandal and its impact on the US, the Middle East and Central America.” – Farideh Farhi
“A thrilling account of secrecy, connivance and manipulation in the dark corridors of power in Washington and Tehran ... A truly fascinating book.” – Maziar Bahari
Becoming Enemies: U.S-Iran Relations During the Iran-Iraq War, 1979-1988
By James Blight, janet Lang, Hussein Banai, Malcolm Byrne and John Tirman (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2012, 408 pp.)
“For those seeking to understand the roots of modern enmity between the U.S. and Iran, Becoming Enemies is a truly unique and wonderful resource.” – Karim Sadjadpour
“I have never read a book quite like this. Becoming Enemies is the latest product of the indispensable National Security Archive ... They not only use their skills to get major U.S. policy documents declassified, but they take those documents and find innovative ways to illuminate important historical episodes. This book is a living example.” – Gary Sick
“A fascinating, eye-opening book.” – Haleh Esfandiari
“Becoming Enemies provides a profound understanding ... a fascinating story ... [and] a rare "fly-on-the-wall" perspective on how ... the United States got itself into the mess it is in today in the Persian Gulf.” – Kenneth M. Pollack
Mohammad Mosaddeq and the 1953 Coup in Iran
Edited by Mark J. Gasiorowski and Malcolm Byrne (Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 2004, 360 pp.)
Winner, 2003-2004 Mosaddeq Foundation Prize
"More books should have this pedigree … The results are impressive: seven polished studies that speak to each other … richly detailed and tightly reasoned …" – Foreign Affairs
"This book … sheds vital new light on issues that remain crucial to the evolution of U.S.-Iran relations." – Nikki Keddie
"Mark Gasiorowski and Malcolm Byrne have assembled a stellar array of talented scholars … This is an exceptional collection dealing with a uniquely important event." – Gary Sick
"This multinational, multiarchival history is a magnificent addition to the literature on post-World War II international history." – Melvyn Leffler
The Iran-Contra Scandal: The Declassified History
By Malcolm Byrne and Peter Kornbluh (New York: The New Press, 1993, 314 pp.)
"The documents assembled by the National Security Archive take us inside the Reagan/Bush administrations, where lying and deception of the press, Congress and the public were as essential to the government's policies as the illegal operations
Seymour M. Hersh
"Among the myriad books from this event, this volume alone provides the public record needed to reach a final verdict. A professionally done volume, it belongs in every public school and academic library." – Library Journal
By Scott Armstrong, Malcolm Byrne, Tom Blanton and the National Security Archive, (New York: Warner Books, 1987, 687 pp.).
"The most comprehensive, authoritative, objective and useful summary of the Iran-Contra affair available. – Bob Woodward, The Washington Post
"The Chronology is an extremely valuable work." – Peter Jennings, ABC News
"Essential reading." – Stephen Engelberg, The New York Times
The Iran-Contra Affair: The Making of a Scandal, 1983-1988
Edited by Malcolm Byrne and Peter Kornbluh (Alexandria, VA: Chadwyck-Healey, 1990)
664 microfiche (over 20,000 pages) with 2-volume printed guide and index
Iran: The Making of U.S. Policy, 1977-1980
Edited by Eric Hooglund (Alexandria, VA: Chadwyck-Healey, 1990)
565 microfiche (over 14,000 pages) with 2-volume printed guide and index