Amir Mahdavi is an AM candidate studying Middle East politics at Harvard University. He earned a Master`s degree in Conflict Resolution from Brandeis University, and he accepted a grant for best research in the field of negotiation from Harvard Law School. Amir has published three Middle Eastern Briefs at Brandeis along with op-eds in Guardian, Washington Post, and Al-Monitor. Additionally, his papers have been accepted for international conferences of the International Studies Association, International Society of Iranian Studies, and the International Organization for Conflict Management. He also has a BS in Management and worked for a decade as a journalist and chief editor. A recipient of Iran's national journalism award, he has published many op-eds and stories throughout his career.