Raeesi 2017, Or Ahmadinejad Redux?

by Reza HaghighatNejad In 2005, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected as president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a surprise victory that shocked Iran and the rest of the world. A former teacher, engineer and mayor of Tehran, he rapidly rose in… Continue Reading

Iran Presidential Elections: No Easy Victory for Rouhani

by Ali Reza Eshraghi Iran’s presidential elections have never been without drama. This year, the Guardian Council—a group tasked to approve candidates—set a new record for the number of disqualifications. Of the 1,636 individuals who registered, it approved only six.… Continue Reading

Poll Highlights Rouhani’s Reelection Challenge

by Derek Davison With all 1600-plus candidates now registered for next month’s Iranian presidential election, the results of a new public opinion survey by IranPoll suggest that incumbent President Hassan Rouhani may have a challenge on his hands if he… Continue Reading

Iran’s Presidential Carnival Kicks off

by Farideh Farhi  In the past two decades, Iran’s presidential election kickoffs have increasingly become occasions for comedy. It did not disappoint this time. During the five-day registration period, beginning on April 11, over 1,600 people signed up (1,636 to… Continue Reading