Iranian Hardliners Silent on Rouhani’s US Diplomacy

by Ali Reza Eshraghi Following the phone conversation between Presidents Barack Obama and Hassan Rouhani, the atmosphere in Iran has taken a happier turn while remaining surprisingly calm. Contrary to predictions made over the past week and during Rouhani’s trip… Continue Reading

On Iran, Ross Still Knows Best

by Jim Lobe Exactly three weeks ago, a confident Dennis Ross, President Barack Obama’s top Iran policy-maker for most of his first term, made the following assessments and predictions in an op-ed entitled, ironically, “Don’t Discount the Iranian Election:”

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

Economic Issues Remain Murky As Iranians Go To Polls

by Djavad Salehi-Isfahani Talking to ordinary people in Neishabour and Tehran about Iran’s June 14 presidential election, economic issues seem foremost on their minds. But whom they will vote for is based on vague promises to pull the economy out… 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