After a first round of presidential elections in Iran, Hassan Rohani has appeared as the surprise victor, becoming Iran’s new President Elect.
His victory may well be the key to ending Iran’s conflict with the West, and deterring any potential attacks that may have been in the pipeline, such as from Israel.
Suzanne Maloney, from the Brookings Instituion’s Saban Centre for Middle East Policy, explained to Bloomberg that“those advocating an attack on Iran have been dealt a setback. The chances of an attack on Iran are even more remote than they have been in many years.”
In his first news conference as President Elect, Rohani stated that he will work to improve Iran’s relations with countries around the world. Western nations are interested in beginning talks with Rohani, and the EU and British Foreign Office both urge Rohani to help sort a diplomatic solution to the conflict over Iran’s nuclear program
Rohani was appointed as a candidate by the Supreme leader Ali Khamenei, and as with all the other candidates he is a firm supporter of Iran’s rights to develop nuclear technology, however he has stated that Iran’s nuclear progress should not come at the expense of the economy.
In order to work towards a resolution to the conflict, and eventually have the sanctions removed, Rhoni is willing to grant more freedom to reporters, and non-governmental organizations, in an attempt to build trust and end Iran’s isolation from the world.
“We will try to win back trust. We can make it clear to the whole world that the measures and activities of the Islamic Republic of Iran are totally within international regulations and mechanisms.”
Cliff Kupchan, the director for the Middle East at Eurasia Group, told Bloomberg that “sanctioning Ahmadinejad was very easy, it comes very naturally to the entire international community. Sanctioning a moderate, well-respected, judicious, articulate cleric is one heck of a lot harder.”
By. James Burgess of Oilprice.com