I am a researcher at the Leiden University Institute for Area Studies (LIAS), specialising in international relations, global political economy, and Middle East politics. My work explores how global capitalism and the international economic order shape political and economic developments in Iran and the broader Middle East. I pay particular attention to the roles of ethnicity, gender, and geopolitics in structuring class relations, state formation, and regional dynamics.

I am the author of Capitalism in Contemporary Iran: Capital Accumulation, State Formation, and Geopolitics (Manchester University Press, 2024), which offers a critical analysis of Iran’s neoliberal transformation. The book examines how neoliberal restructuring has reshaped domestic institutions, redefined political Islam, and influenced Iran’s foreign policy in the context of global capitalism and international rivalries.

Over the past nine years, I have developed a strong interdisciplinary profile through research, teaching, and academic service. I have secured research funding, supervised undergraduate and graduate theses, and organised international conferences and workshops. My academic practice is grounded in collaboration and cross-disciplinary engagement, aiming to bridge institutional and cultural divides in both research and teaching.

I earned my PhD in International Relations from the University of Nottingham, where my doctoral research on post-revolutionary Iran was awarded the Best PhD Thesis Prize in 2021. I also hold an MA in International Relations (Research Track) from the University of Nottingham, an MSc Econ in International Relations from Cardiff University, and a BA in Communication and Media Studies from the University of Tehran.

In addition to academic research, I am engaged in public scholarship, exploring how critical research can reach wider audiences and contribute to meaningful public debate. My work has been featured in academic blogs, media commentaries, and interviews, informing broader conversations on Iran, Middle East politics, international development, and global order.