Hassan Rouhani: Sheep or Wolf?

Iranian Flag

Hassan Rouhani is the new Iranian president.
This blog would like to wish him a fruitful term and may he truly serve the interests of the Iranian People...

The Western media judged the president-elect as moderate - as if westerners had the need to be assured that Iran could produce "moderate" politicians. However there are some details that should not be overlooked: Mr Rouhani is a cleric who participated in the Iranian Islamic Revolution, in 1979; who was connected to the late Ayatollah Khomeini (the founder of the Islamic Republic) and who was the chief nuclear negotiator from 2003 to 2005 (when he confessed that Iran had been duping the West: "While we were talking with the Europeans in Tehran [about suspending enrichment], we were installing equipment in parts of the facility in Isfahan"). This background doesn't quite work in his favour as a moderate.

Iran is, presently, a theocracy with democratic characteristics. The prospective Presidential Candidates have to be approved by the Guardian Council (which is the same as saying that candidates are to be analysed and selected according to the Ayatollah's best interests); then after much conservative deliberation, the Iranian electorate will choose from the vetted candidates and elect a president; knowing though that the Supreme Leader retains the last word on issues, mainly on foreign affairs and on the nuclear programme (in his words "A nuclear arsenal would serve Iran as a deterrent in the hands of God’s soldiers").

President-elect Rouhani made some interesting statements:
1. "You should know the nuclear issue and the sanctions will also be resolved, and economic prosperity will also be created."
2. "I said it is good for centrifuges to operate, but it is also important that the country operates as well and the wheels of industry are turning."
3. "What I truly wish is for moderation to return to the country. This is my only wish. Extremism pains me greatly. We have suffered many blows as a result of extremism."
4. "Social woes have been on the rise over the past years. I do believe that the only way to resolve these problems is decentralisation. Our problems will not be resolved as long as only the government is in charge of our cultural affairs."

A priori, these words do offer some comfort and assurance that Iran is stepping into the threshold of change. However, as the president-elect continues to talk in public, his rhetoric slowly morphs into subtle warnings:

1."The nations who tout democracy and open dialogue should speak to the Iranian people with respect and recognise the rights of the Islamic republic."
2. "The sanctions are unfair, the Iranian people are suffering, and our (nuclear) activities are legal."
3."These sanctions are illegal and only benefit Israel."

Looking closely at these words, we realise that Ayatollah Khamenei - in his attempt to mislead the world into relaxing sanctions - has left his fingerprints behind.
Change doesn't seem to be on Iran's agenda after all, for:

• it still obsesses over getting - instead of gaining - the West's respect (revealing, thus, a complex of inferiority),
• it still fails to comprehend that its rhetoric wards off potential diplomatic partners,
• it still refuses to take responsibility for its nuclear stubbornness, 
• it still rejects the principle of self-accountability,
• it still obsesses over Israel instead of focusing on solving its own issues.

Although the wording is changing; we must not precipitate ourselves...
Beware of those who "come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves." (Matthew 7:15)