Hassan Rouhani
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Power struggle in Iran
Rouhani's balancing act
Hardliners in the Islamic Republic of Iran are intent on showing the president where the boundaries of his ambitious domestic reform agenda lie. By Marcus Michaelsen
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Turkish–Iranian relations
"Zero problems" with the Islamic Republic
Even at the height of diplomatic tensions with Iran and after an intensification of sanctions against the country, Turkey did not fall in with the West's strict line on Iran. Sinan Ulgen explains why
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Iran's Intellectuals and President Rouhani
When Freedom Becomes A Possibility
Ever since Hassan Rouhani assumed the office of Iranian president, optimism has been growing among Tehran's intellectuals. Nevertheless, no one is taking any chances; past experience has shown that this would be unwise. Marina Forti reports from the Iranian capital
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Domestic Political Reforms in Iran
The Door to Freedom Remains Shut
Iran's conservatives – whose representatives were defeated by Hassan Rouhani in the presidential election earlier this year – have maintained their grip on power in important areas of state such as the judiciary, the armed forces, the Revolutionary Guard and the security forces. Because the liberal Rouhani does not want to wage war on two fronts, it is inevitable that he will disappoint his supporters. A commentary by Rudolph Chimelli
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Nuclear Talks with Iran
Historic Step on a Rocky Road
The interim deal agreed at negotiations in Geneva is a breakthrough that would have seemed impossible just six months ago. By permitting stricter controls and limiting uranium enrichment, Iran has made concessions. But sharp criticism from Israel shows that the path to a final agreement is still strewn with obstacles. By Ulrich von Schwerin
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Nuclear Conflict with Iran
Time for the West to Shift its Stance
The Iranian President's latest overtures in the nuclear row are being followed with great interest in the West, where the attitude that Iran must now follow up its words with deeds still prevails. But if the negotiations are to succeed, the West must also signal a readiness to make concessions, says Ulrich von Schwerin
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US Military Strike against Syria
More Harm than Good
US military strikes on Syria have the potential to engulf the entire region – and perhaps the US – in a broader war. After its experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq over the past decade, the US can hardly afford a Syrian quagmire, says Seyed Hossein Mousavian in his essay
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Iran and the Syria Conflict
Pragmatism instead of Confrontation
Iran has welcomed the Russian imitative for international control of Syria's chemical weapon arsenal. The fact that President Obama is now pushing for a diplomatic solution to the conflict is also good news for the moderate forces in Tehran, who do not wish to support Assad at any price. By Marcus Michaelsen
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Iran's New President Rouhani
Hopes for Reorientation
Hassan Rouhani has now been sworn in as Iran's new President. The expectations for the moderate leader are high. But he is facing complex domestic and external challenges, as Shahram Ahadi reports
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Interview with Bahman Nirumand
The Pasdaran Holds the Reins of Power
Many consider the Pasdaran, Iran's Revolutionary Guards, to be the real centre of power in Iran. In this interview with Shahram Ahadi, Bahman Nirumand talks about how the role of the Pasdaran in the Islamic Republic has changed in recent years and its possible influence on the presidential election
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Michael Luders on the sanctions on Iran
"The objective is regime change"
For years, the nuclear dispute between the West and Iran has been at a deadlock. In this interview with Thomas Latschan, Middle East expert Michael Lüders says that the West's main objective is not in fact to find a solution to the problem, but to stop Iran from being a power factor in the region
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Interview with Roxana Saberi on the Elections in Iran
''The Syrian Situation Is Sending a Message to the Iranians''
The Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi was sentenced to an eight-year prison term on bogus espionage charges in Iran in 2009. She was released following the intervention of US president Barack Obama. Saberi does not believe that the presidential elections in Iran on 14 June will bring major political changes. An interview by Tobias Köberlein