New Interviews
Iran’s Successes and Failures - 34 Years Later
Daniel Brumberg
What is Iran’s Strategy at New Talks?
Alireza Nader
What are Tehran’s goals? On what issues might it compromise?
Photo Credit: Khamenei.ir via Facebook
What are Prospects for Progress at New Talks?
How important is Iran in John Kerry’s first year as secretary of state—and why?
Part IV - Pivotal Election: The Issues
Shaul Bakhash
His position reflected the recent call by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (left) for “an economy of resistance” that preaches defiance of sanctions imposed by the outside world. In January, Khamenei endorsed a plan from the Expediency Council for self-sufficiency in defense, security, industry and agriculture.
Polls indicate that most Iranians believe the Islamic Republic has a right to enrich uranium for its nuclear energy program. But many Iranians also want to end the standoff with the international community that has devastated the economy and isolated Iran.
In different ways, former President Mohammad Khatami, former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and even President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have separately appealed for free elections. In January, with the election season about to begin, Khamenei countered by warning that such talk only provides comfort to the “enemy” and weakens public faith in the electoral process. Iran’s elections, he claimed, are the freest in the world.
Friday prayer leaders in Tehran and other major cities in the country soon echoed his denunciation of free elections. Over 100 members of the Majles voted for a resolution on the same lines.
Although small, these moves are reminders that a wider debate is still taking place even as the regime tries to tighten its hold over political life and control the upcoming elections.
Read Part II - Pivotal Election: The Ahmadinejad Camp
Read Part III - Pivotal Election: The Reformists
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons and www.sajed.ir
Part III - Pivotal Election: The Reformists
Shaul Bakhash
As yet, the reformists have a fundamental problem—no viable candidate. Khatami will not run again, even though he technically could. Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi (left)—a former prime minister and former speaker of parliament—remain under house arrest for their leadership of the opposition Green Movement after the disputed 2009 election. Mohammad Reza Aref, Khatami’s former vice-president, has reportedly considered running. But the obstacles are formidable for reformists.
Read Part II - Pivotal Election: The Ahmadinejad Camp
Recent Interviews
-
02/10/2013 - 11:35
-
02/07/2013 - 12:08
-
02/05/2013 - 11:07
-
02/01/2013 - 15:52
-
01/31/2013 - 09:24