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About
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
Iran, United States, 20th century
Engagement and impact
2026
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.