{"id":8800,"date":"2021-02-16T13:43:28","date_gmt":"2021-02-16T10:43:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/?p=8800"},"modified":"2021-05-24T15:12:15","modified_gmt":"2021-05-24T12:12:15","slug":"irans-reformists-face-a-hard-battle-for-the-presidency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/monitoring-and-translation\/reports\/irans-reformists-face-a-hard-battle-for-the-presidency\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran\u2019s \u201cReformists\u201d Face a \u201cHard Battle\u201d for the Presidency"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Iran\u2019s \u201creformists\u201d are painfully aware of their growing irrelevance in the country. The <strong>\u201c<\/strong>reformist<strong>\u201d<\/strong> camp never recovered from the 2013 presidential election, when it withdrew to ensure that the moderate candidate, Hassan Rouhani, won the presidential bid. It now wants to part ways with Rouhani to win the next presidential race in June 2021.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The \u201creformists\u201d\u00a0seem preoccupied with how best to separate themselves from Rouhani\u2019s failed record as president. \u201cReformist\u201d figures are debating whether or not to accept some responsibility for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.farsnews.ir\/news\/13991114000974\/%D8%A8%D9%86%E2%80%8C%D8%A8%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D9%88-%D8%A7%D8%AE%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%81-%D8%AC%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%E2%80%8C%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%86%D8%B3%D8%AE%D9%87%E2%80%8C%D9%BE%DB%8C%DA%86%DB%8C-%D8%AF%DB%8C%DA%AF%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%AD%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C\">Rouhani\u2019s failures<\/a>. However, they are unequivocal that Rouhani failed to defend freedom,\u00a0promote transparency, and was unsuccessful in overturning the house arrest imposed on several leaders of the\u00a0Green Movement such as Mehdi Karroubi and Mir Hussein Mousavi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sadegh Kharrazi, the \u201dreformist\u201d leader of\u00a0 Neday-e-Iranian (Voice of Iranians), has said that\u00a0 his camp should seek forgiveness for supporting <a href=\"http:\/\/www.farsnews.ir\/news\/13991114000974\/__%E2%80%8C___-_-______-____-_____%E2%80%8C_____-____%E2%80%8C____-_____-__-_______-____\">\u00a0the \u201cleased\u201d president<\/a> of Iran. His sharp remark was intended\u00a0 to remind the \u201dreformist\u201d camp of its\u00a0painful decision to support\u00a0 Rouhani and urged it not to support any moderate candidate in the next presidential election.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;However, Rouhani\u2019s advisors call Kharrazi a dishonest man who is merely seeking&nbsp; to build his own popular base&nbsp; by making controversial&nbsp; remarks. Kharrazi accuses Rouhani\u2019s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.farsnews.ir\/news\/13991114000974\/__%E2%80%8C___-_-______-____-_____%E2%80%8C_____-____%E2%80%8C____-_____-__-_______-____\">government of \u201c and prudence and hope\u201d of<\/a> failing the Iranian people, and shielding Rouhani from external criticism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the next presidential race, Kharrazi and like-minded \u201dreformists\u201d have even set up a new body to promote \u201dreformist\u201d candidates. But the body was not named,\u00a0 pointing to the internal battles facing the \u201dreformists\u201d if they were to regroup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00a0The body was eventually named\u00a0 the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.farsnews.ir\/news\/13991114000974\/\u0628\u0646%E2%80%8C\u0628\u0633\u062a-\u0648-\u0627\u062e\u062a\u0644\u0627\u0641-\u062c\u062f\u06cc\u062f-\u0627\u0635\u0644\u0627\u062d%E2%80%8C\u0637\u0644\u0628\u0627\u0646-\u0646\u0633\u062e\u0647%E2%80%8C\u067e\u06cc\u0686\u06cc-\u062f\u06cc\u06af\u0631\u06cc-\u0627\u0632-\u062d\u062c\u0627\u0631\u06cc\u0627\u0646-\u0628\u0631\u0627\u06cc\">Consensus Institution<\/a>\u201d but a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.farsnews.ir\/news\/13991114000974\/__%E2%80%8C___-_-______-____-_____%E2%80%8C_____-____%E2%80%8C____-_____-__-_______-____\">younger generation of \u201dreformists<\/a>\u201d said they were excluded from it. To signal inclusiveness, it was renamed the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.farsnews.ir\/news\/13991119000983\/%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%85-%D9%86%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B9%E2%80%8C%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%AE%D8%B5-%D8%B4%D8%AF-%D8%AC%D8%A8%D9%87%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%E2%80%8C%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%86%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA%DB%8C\">Iranian Reformist Front.<\/a>\u201d The body is made up of 46 official \u201dreformist\u201d members, and it will help \u201dreformist\u201d candidates to contest the presidency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The \u201dreformists\u201d are aware that they lack policies to provide them with impetus\u00a0 in the elections.\u00a0They have an unclear <a href=\"https:\/\/www.farsnews.ir\/news\/13991117000508\/%D9%81%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%E2%80%8C%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A8-%D8%B1%D9%88%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%AF%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AF%D9%86-%D9%87%D9%85-%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%B5%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D9%87%D9%85-%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%AF-%DA%A9%D9%88%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%AF-9\">foreign policy<\/a> agenda, particularly when it comes to solving sensitive issues such as Iran\u2019s relations with the United States. Instead, they tend to follow existing\u00a0 foreign policy attitudes,\u00a0 including the point of view that the Biden administration offers an opportunity for Iran\u00a0 if it opens diplomatic channels\u00a0 but presents a threat if it\u00a0 insists on containing Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.farsnews.ir\/news\/13991116000589\/%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%AA%D8%BA%DB%8C%DB%8C%D8%B1-%D8%B5%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%82%E2%80%8C%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%B1%D8%A3%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%E2%80%8C%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%86%D9%85%DB%8C%E2%80%8C%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%86%D8%AF-%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%AF-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA\">Mohammad Reza Aref<\/a>, who led the\u00a0 Omid Party (Hope faction)\u00a0 in the last Parliament, is the only \u201dreformist\u201d figure\u00a0who has attempted to articulate a\u00a0 foreign policy agenda. However, there is not much new in what he has said; he supports engagement with the world.\u00a0 Similarly, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.farsnews.ir\/news\/13991117000286\/%D8%B4%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B9%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%84%D8%AD-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-400-%D9%85%DB%8C%E2%80%8C%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%B9%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%85%D9%82%D8%A8%D9%88%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%AA\">women\u2019s caucus<\/a> of the \u201dreformist\u201d camp, Iran is simply better off if its next president commits to\u00a0 promoting peace and engaging in dialogue with the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another problem facing the \u201dreformists\u201d is that their support base has shrunk to\u00a0 just 10 percent of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/persian\/iran-51080067\">Iran\u2019s voting population<\/a>. Several\u00a0 moderate figures could end up joining hands with\u00a0the \u201dreformist\u201d camp in the next presidential elections in the form of a loose alliance.\u00a0 They are all linked to President Rouhani\u2019s moderate\u00a0 camp, including Mohsen Hashemi (son of former late\u00a0 President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani), Eshaq Jahangiri (Rouhani\u2019s vice president), and Mohammad Javad Zarif (Iran\u2019s foreign minister).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The moderates\u00a0 insist that they <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tasnimnews.com\/fa\/news\/1398\/11\/28\/2204615\/%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B3%DA%86%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B3-%D8%AF%D9%85%D9%88%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D9%86%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C%D9%85-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%B4%D8%B1%DA%A9%D8%AA-%D9%86%DA%A9%D9%86%DB%8C%D9%85\">will not withdraw<\/a> their candidates, thus forcing the \u201dreformists\u201d to back them. To <a href=\"http:\/\/vaghayedaily.ir\/fa\/news\/7428\/%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%AA%D9%81%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D8%AE%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%81-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%81-%D9%88-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B3%DA%86%DB%8C-%D8%A8%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%B9%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA\">win over \u201dreformist\u201d voters<\/a>, moderate figures\u00a0 even met up with the leader of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tasnimnews.com\/fa\/news\/1398\/11\/28\/2204615\/%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B3%DA%86%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B3-%D8%AF%D9%85%D9%88%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D9%86%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C%D9%85-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%B4%D8%B1%DA%A9%D8%AA-%D9%86%DA%A9%D9%86%DB%8C%D9%85\">Green Movement Mehdi Karroubi<\/a>, and argued that their experience in government was critical to guaranteeing\u00a0 Iran\u2019s future democracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aref is urging \u201dreformists\u201d to unite <a href=\"https:\/\/www.farsnews.ir\/news\/13991116000589\/%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%AA%D8%BA%DB%8C%DB%8C%D8%B1-%D8%B5%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%82%E2%80%8C%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%B1%D8%A3%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%E2%80%8C%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%86%D9%85%DB%8C%E2%80%8C%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%86%D8%AF-%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%AF-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA\">to win votes<\/a>. To reach voters, the \u201dreformists\u201d will\u00a0 have to adopt <a href=\"https:\/\/www.farsnews.ir\/news\/13991119000168\/%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D8%B1%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%87%E2%80%8C%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%BE%D9%86%D8%AC%E2%80%8C%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%E2%80%8C%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%87-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-\">five tactics<\/a> to stand out from the moderate\u00a0 camp. These include\u00a0 criticizing President Rouhani for the failure of his government,\u00a0 branding him a conservative and\u00a0 a cunning man who drew close to the \u201dreformists\u201d to win the presidential elections. In addition, they must argue that Rouhani is an arrogant man who dismisses reforms and is worthy of \u201dreformist\u201d contempt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the \u201dreformists\u201d\u00a0want to have an outside chance of winning\u00a0 the next presidential elections,\u00a0 they need a strong candidate as well as a clear strategy. So far, they have neither.\u00a0 In addition, their chances are minimal as they have no presence or are underrepresented in key Iranian institutions and bodies. These realities make a reformist victory\u00a0 in the next presidential race\u00a0 extremely dim.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Iran\u2019s reformists are painfully aware of their growing irrelevance in the country. The reformist camp never recovered from the 2013 presidential election, when it withdrew to ensure that the moderate candidate, Hassan Rouhani, won the presidential bid. It now wants to part ways with Rouhani to win the next presidential race in June 2021.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":8801,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[5741,5740,457,381],"class_list":["post-8800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-reports","tag-hard-battle","tag-irans-reformists","tag-presidency","tag-reformists"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8800"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8800\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9078,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8800\/revisions\/9078"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8801"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}