Iran’s Moderation Project and Lessons of the Reform Era

by Mohammad Ali Kadivar It took only a few months after president Hassan Rouhani’s inauguration for the broad but fragile alliance behind him to face challenges after the shutdown of a reformist newspaper as well as the harassment of the… Continue Reading

Iran’s Telling Ministerial Confirmation Hearings

by Farideh Farhi Iran’s cabinet confirmation hearings this week were painful, but not for its new president Hassan Rouhani, despite the rejection of 3 out of his 18 ministerial nominees. They were painful for Iran’s hardliners, whose mismanagement of the… Continue Reading

Will Iran’s Opposition Leaders Be Released?

by Alireza Nader via IPS News Hassan Rouhani’s election as Iran’s new president has garnered much international attention. In particular, Rouhani’s ascendance has raised hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough on the Iranian nuclear crisis. It would not be surprising for… Continue Reading

Iranians Vote for Hope and a Change of Course

by Farideh Farhi via IPS News Iran’s June 14 presidential election results, announced the day after, was nothing less than a political earthquake. The centrist Hassan Rowhani’s win was ruled out when Iran’s vetting body, the Guardian Council, qualified him… Continue Reading

Why the Reformist-Centrist Alliance in Iran is Important

No Matter How the Election Turns Out by Farideh Farhi The decision by the reformist candidate Mohammadreza Aref to withdraw his candidacy — and in effect open the path for the centrist Hassan Rowhani to become the unified candidate of both the centrists and… Continue Reading