Comment and Opinion
Council on Foreign Relations: How to Read Iran’s Elections, an interview with Ray Takeyh
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It is still unclear who will triumph in Iran’s presidential election this Friday, says CFR’s Ray Takeyh, but the victor “will likely be drawn from the conservative/revolutionary wing of this particular slate of candidates.” The prospects for the sole remaining moderate contender, Hassan Rowhani, are slim, but he may yet invigorate the reform movement, says Takeyh. While none of the candidates outwardly support suspension of Iran’s controversial nuclear program, Takeyh says that “if you read between the lines,” their recent discussion of foreign policy “suggests they are willing to be much more accommodating on the nuclear issue.”