The International Committee in Search of Justice (ISJ) is proud to announce the release of Countdown to Collapse: Iran’s Regime on the Brink, a powerful new book by ISJ Senior Board Member and acclaimed author, Struan Stevenson. Published in paperback on July 19, 2025, this timely work offers a penetrating analysis of Iran’s turbulent modern history and a compelling vision for democratic transformation.
We are especially honored by the contribution of Professor Ivan Sascha Sheehan, PhD, Executive Director of the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Baltimore. In his foreword, Prof. Sheehan—an award-winning counterterrorism scholar and leading expert on Iranian affairs—describes Stevenson’s book as both a rigorous academic resource and a bold call to action. He commends Stevenson’s fearless critique of Iran’s dual dictatorships—the Pahlavi monarchy and the clerical regime—and his clear roadmap toward a secular, democratic republic.
In Countdown to Collapse, Stevenson traces the arc of authoritarianism in Iran, from the autocratic rule of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to the theocratic regime established by Ayatollah Khomeini. Far from fulfilling the people’s revolutionary aspirations, Stevenson argues, Khomeini’s rise marked a betrayal—replacing one form of tyranny with another and institutionalizing repression under the guise of religious rule.
Central to Stevenson’s critique is the doctrine of Velayat-e Faqih—absolute clerical authority—which he identifies as the ideological cornerstone of Iran’s current regime. This doctrine, he contends, has entrenched misogyny, legalized discrimination, and dismantled democratic norms. Under its grip, dissent is silenced, fear is weaponized, and the rights of the Iranian people are systematically violated.
Yet this is not merely a chronicle of oppression. Stevenson’s book is a tribute to the resilience and courage of the Iranian people. His account of the Iran-Iraq War exposes the regime’s ruthless expansionism and its tragic sacrifice of a generation of youth—underscoring the urgent need for change.
Stevenson calls on the international community to recognize and support the organized Iranian opposition as the most credible force for democratic progress. He urges Western policymakers to move beyond the false binary of “engagement” versus “confrontation” and embrace a principled third path—one that empowers the Iranian people and aligns with their legitimate aspirations for freedom, dignity, and peace.
With Prof. Sheehan’s authoritative foreword, Countdown to Collapse stands as both a searing indictment of failed policies and a visionary guide for a new approach—one that places the Iranian people at the center of the global conversation on democracy and human rights.
The book is available for purchase at amazon.com.
For media inquiries or to request an interview with Mr. Stevenson or Prof. Sheehan, please contact the ISJ
