about the author

Mahtab Farid

Mahtab Farid is an award-winning international journalist, diplomat, and analyst known for her work in newsrooms, war zones, and diplomatic missions. Born in Tehran and raised during the Islamic Revolution, she migrated to California as a teenager. After graduation, Farid moved to Washington, DC, and built a remarkable career reporting on national security issues, including U.S.-Iran relations and conflicts in the Middle East. During the U.S.-Afghanistan war, she answered the call for the civilian surge, serving as a public diplomacy officer with the U.S. Department of State. For her remarkable service in arduous situations, Farid received the Secretary’s Expeditionary Service Award. Mahtab Farid holds a degree in political science from California State University, Northridge, and a graduate degree in education from California State University, San Bernardino. She is also a Boren scholar from Georgetown, an alumnus of the University of Southern California’s public diplomacy executive program, and a Global Cultural Fellow from Edinburgh University.

While constantly at the cutting edge of national security analysis, Mahtab Farid finds refuge in nature. She enjoys long walks on trails and beaches, biking through scenic landscapes. Gardening is another passion, where she nurtures fresh produce and vibrant flowers. With a love for cultures and languages, she engages with the concept of soft power, weaving her insights into her experiences and balancing the complexities of her profession with the serenity of her pursuits.