Mr Jack Roush

Mr Jack Roush

PhD Student

Department of International History

Room No
SAR.M.15
Office Hours
Thursday, 4.30pm - 5.30pm
Languages
English
Key Expertise
Iran, United States, 20th century

About me

Jack Roush is a full-time PhD candidate in International History at LSE, studying relations between Iran and the United States in the 20th century and its present-day implications. In particular, he examines the role of informal actors in shaping bilateral diplomacy from the 1940s until 1979.

Originally from the United States, Jack holds a joint B.A. in International Relations and Persian and an MLitt in Iranian History, both from the University of St. Andrews. His research has received support from institutions including the British Institute for Persian Studies, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, the LSE Phelan United States Centre, the Princeton University Library, and the Rockefeller Archive Center, among others. Currently, he holds a year-long writing fellowship with the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library Institute.

Alongside his academic work, Jack has worked as a subject matter expert for NATO’s Defence Education Enhancement Programme, supporting military education and curriculum development in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He also writes frequently on contemporary Iranian foreign policy and has experience teaching at the primary, secondary, and undergraduate levels.

PhD title: "Friends of the Family: Informal actors in Iran-US relations during the late Pahlavi period"

Supervisor: Dr Roham Alvandi 

Expertise Details

Iran; United States; 20th century

News and Media

July - 2025

Jack Roush publishes article on Iran in The Hill

Jack wrote how in the wake of U.S. strikes and a fragile ceasefire with Israel, Iran has sought to strengthen ties with its European partners, Belarus and Serbia. These efforts reflect Tehran’s broader attempt to hedge against Russian unreliability, and diversify its partnerships after the loss of traditional allies.

Under Iranian pressure, Belarus has moved to deepen military relations, while Serbia has taken steps toward closer diplomatic alignment by suspending arms sales to Israel. These relationships could undermine Western sanctions and other international pressure against Iran, while potentially creating new security risks.

Collectively, these overtures mark an emerging feature of Iran’s post-conflict strategy and signal the pursuit of new avenues for diplomatic, economic, and security cooperation.

Read the full article HERE