Gift Expands Iran Project’s Cutting-Edge Research

The Belfer Center’s Iran Project has received funding from the Universal Muslim Association of America, a non-governmental organization that works on social, political, religious, and humanitarian issues.

This funding will allow the Iran Project to further its cutting-edge research on Iranian politics and its role in the larger Middle East and world affairs, said Iran Project Director Payam Mohseni.  The gift will assist the project in launching a research initiative on the future of Shi’ism, sectarianism, and conflict resolution in the Middle East. 

“The primary aim of this initiative is to bring together leading voices from across Shi’a and Sunni communities and to explore strategies for sectarian
de-escalation in the Middle East,” Mohseni said.

The goal of the Iran Project is to increase understanding of Iran and contemporary Iranian affairs, from its nuclear program to Iranian state and society more broadly. The project also supports the efforts of Iranian students and those involved in Iranian studies at Harvard University and aims to become a diplomatic bridge to engage Iran and Iranian universities and research institutes.