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About
Jack Roush is a PhD candidate in International History at LSE, researching relations between Iran and the United States during the twentieth century. His doctoral research examines the role of informal actors in shaping bilateral relations from 1943 through 1979. His broader research interests include grand strategy, economic statecraft, and alliance politics.
Originally from the United States, Jack holds an MA in International Relations and Persian and an MLitt in Iranian Studies, both from the University of St Andrews. He is currently a Hans J. Morgenthau Fellow at the O’Brien Notre Dame International Security Center and previously held a fellowship with the Truman Library Institute.
Alongside his academic work, Jack acts as a subject matter expert for NATO’s Defence Education Enhancement Programme, contributing to military education and curriculum development projects. He also applies insights from his historical research to contemporary questions of Iranian foreign policy and Iran-US relations in public-facing publications, including War on the Rocks, The Diplomat, and The Hill.
PhD title: 'Friends of the Family: Informal actors in Iran-US relations during the late Pahlavi period'
Supervisor: Dr Roham Alvandi
Expertise
Iran, United States, 20th century
Engagement and impact
2026
Jack Roush was interviewed by TIME about the Trump administration’s latest sanctions on Iran’s aviation sector
Jack spoke to TIME about the potential impact these new sanctions will have on Iran’s economy and regional trade, and the limits of Washington’s strategy of economic pressure against the Islamic Republic.
Read the article HERE
Jack Roush has penned a new article for Diplomatic History entitled ‘Mehdi Samii and the 1964–1968 Iran-US Arms Negotiations’
Jack's new article reassesses a pivotal moment in relations between Iran and the United States by examining the role of Mehdi Samii, governor of the Central Bank of Iran and a key arms negotiator.
It shows how Samii’s technocratic credibility and economic diplomacy with the Soviet Union were instrumental in pushing the Johnson administration to accommodate Iran’s strategic ambitions.
Read the article HERE
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
"Persepolis, Armenia, and Iran's Balancing Act", Royal Society for Asian Affairs, 7 November 2025.
“How Iran Sees the China-US Trade War,” The Diplomat, 18 July 2025.
“Monetary Warfare: Israel’s Decision to Proscribe Iran’s Central Bank,” Geopolitical Monitor, 17 July 2025.
“After US Strikes, Iran is seeking closer ties to Europe’s pariah states,” The Hill, 9 July 2025.
“Russia’s War in Ukraine Has Brought Iran and Belarus Closer Together,” War on the Rocks, 17 February 2025.
“Iran’s Taliban Charm Offensive,” The Diplomat, 8 February 2025.
“Obscure group formed by Khamenei could nudge Iran toward the bomb,” Iran International, 30 October 2024.
“European states sanction Iran Air over missile transfers, other nations should follow suit,” The Hill, 14 September 2024.
“Pezeshkian Offers Continuity Amid Tensions in Iran-Pakistan Relations,” The Diplomat, 3 August 2024.
“Iran’s New President is No Reformer,” The National Review, 21 July 2024.