Dr. Majid Rafizadeh

By : Dr. Majid Rafizadeh

:: Iran’s government is playing its hand very skilfully in the upcoming presidential elections, as it did in 2013, when the world was sold the idea that a “moderate” was running against a “hard-liner.” Many national and international media outlets, as well as pro-Iran agents in the West, reinforced this narrative. This made many people believe that if a “moderate” wins, Iran and the world would become much better places.

People were sold the notion that a “moderate” would alter Iran’s domestic policies, promote human rights, respect freedoms and advance social justice. They were told a “moderate” would fundamentally alter Iran’s foreign policy, make Tehran a constructive player and oppose the deployment of hard power, military expansionism and the Syrian regime. So they began advocating for the “moderate.”

Even former US President Barack Obama lobbied to strengthen Iran’s “moderates,” making many concessions, helping lift four rounds of UN sanctions, and turning a blind eye to Iran’s domestic abuses and regional interventions.

A ‘hard-liner’ (Ebrahim Raisi) and a ‘moderate’ (Hassan Rouhani) are both Khamenei’s confidants and loyalists. They are both preserving the power and agenda of the supreme leader, as well as Iran’s Shiite and clerical establishment, its revolutionary ideals and the military, which is pursuing regional hegemony.

Dr. Majid Rafizadeh

People were told that if “moderates” are empowered, Iran would give up its revolutionary ideals. Hassan Rouhani became president and has served for almost four years. Yet this “moderate” helped the hard-liners. Countries regionally and internationally suffered tremendously under Rouhani, as did the overwhelming majority of Iranians.

A “moderate” president has brought billions of dollars to the treasury of the hard-liners, mainly Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his gilded circle, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the military and intelligence. Rouhani helped Iran spend more on financing, training and arming its proxies.

Iran became more militarily engaged in Syria and Iraq. It more aggressively interfered in the domestic affairs of many countries, including Bahrain, Yemen and Lebanon. Due to Iran’s sectarian agenda in Iraq and Syria, Daesh and other radical groups gained more power in the region and the world.

Via its Guardian Council, Iran has again masterfully orchestrated a managed and pre-selected race between a “hard-liner” (Ebrahim Raisi) and a “moderate” (Rouhani). Do not be deceived: They are both Khamenei’s confidants and loyalists. They are both preserving the power and agenda of the supreme leader, as well as Iran’s Shiite and clerical establishment, its revolutionary ideals and the military, which is pursuing regional hegemony.

Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated, Iranian-American political scientist. He is a leading expert on Iran and US foreign policy, a businessman and president of the International American Council. He serves on the boards of the Harvard International Review, the Harvard International Relations Council and the US-Middle East Chamber for Commerce and Business. He can be reached on Twitter @Dr_Rafizadeh.

Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in the Column section are their own and do not reflect RiyadhVision’s point-of-view.

Related articles across the web

• Iran's Elections: A Breaking Crisis?
• Former Iranian President Ahmadinejad disqualified from running in upcoming presidential election
• Iran bars Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from running for president
• Russia and Iran affirm commitment to Syrian government
• The loonie, competing currencies and the Bank of Canada as Eeyore
• Ahmadinejad: Iran is a 'powerful country' that the US cannot harm
• Iran's Ahmadinejad registers to run for president in shock move
• Russia, Iran stand firm behind Assad after U.S. 'blatant violation' of Syria sovereignty
• Rouhani hints at 'big development in energy cooperations' between Russia and Iran
• Iran says Russia can use its military bases 'on case by case basis'