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Reports that the pressures stemming from the Iran-Iraq war and the U.S. policy of isolating Islamic Iran have laid the basis for Iran's new diplomatic initiatives. Problems created by the nation's international isolation; Infighting in the battle to succeed Iran's leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini; Desperation of Iran for arms, money, and international support it had previously denounced; Overtures of Iran to start diplomatic relation with the U.S.

Comments on the impact of the war between Iraq and Iran on internal politics in Iran. Setback suffered by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's project for the creation of an Islamic theocracy in Iran; Effects of the emergence of Iranian President Abolhassan Bani-Sadr as a dominant figure in Iran's war effort; Implications on international relations and world politics.

Examines lessons from the Iran political crisis and its implications for the future course of United States foreign policy. Foreign policy division in the United States; Suggestion that United States diplomats and intelligence agencies must be more sensitive than they have been to social and economic developments in other countries; Need to expand and improve information analysis at the Central Intelligence Agency; Argument by Hang Tough chair Henry Kissinger that the crisis in Iran is part of a progressive collapse of pro-Western governments which can be arrested only by a firm, purpose and consistent American policy; Kissinger's criticism of the Carter administration for pressuring Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to ease up his dictatorial control of Iran.

Focuses on Iran. President Mohammed Khatami's news conference warning that the United States and Iran remain far apart on key issues; Mention of his address to the United Nations at the opening of the General Assembly in fall 1998; The country veering politically between moderation and extremism; Mention of the death sentence imposed against an author by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989; The struggle for power within Iran and the government debate on whether to attack Afghanistan. INSET: A step forward, a step back.

Focuses on various political developments in the U.S. and Iran. Popularity of Senator Edmund Muskie; Family background of Muskie; Argument that Muskie was a big advantage to the administration of U.S. President Jimmy Carter; View that Muskie has not been too successful in making the new congressional budget mechanism work; Discussion about the hostage rescue mission of Carter; Efforts of Iranian President Abdolhassan Bani-Sadr to free the American hostages and to control Muslim clerical rivals.

Iran's election last week made it clear that the Islamic Republic founded by Ayatollah Khomeini 25 years ago has not evolved as some had hoped into a serious democracy. So the predictable outcome was a victory for the religious conservatives. Iran's leaders insist that they do not want nuclear weapons, and never have. With each new leak, Iran has changed its story. It now admits to having had a secret programme to enrich uranium. Along with Libya and North Korea, it seems to have been one of the main customers of Abdul Qadeer Khan, the disgraced Pakistani who ran a global nuclear-smuggling network. The mere prospect of Iran acquiring a bomb has prompted Israel to ponder aloud the case for a pre-emptive strike. If Iran got the bomb, sometime enemies such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia might feel compelled to follow suit. In short, though a nuclear Iran may not be worth fighting a war to avert, it is a danger worth averting.