planet earth looks blue

Mohammed Khatami was Iran’s most liberal candidate running for election this summer.  He was President of Iran before, from 1997-2005, holding office before the controversial President Ahmadinejad.  Khatami has officially left the race.

There is an extensive conservative-religious force that rules Iran.  If Khatami was elected, and approved by the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, he still would have to find a way to work with this ever-present political force.  This is the reason his former presidency was regarded as unsuccessful - he wasn’t able to accomplish all of his reforms because of the Supreme Leader and his network.  Earlier this month Khatami warned about splitting the reformist votes, blaming Ahmadinejad’s win in 2005 to divisions within the more left-leaning camp.  By withdrawing from the race for President, Khatami can now support former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Mousave who is also running as a reformist.  Perhaps it is a sacrifice on Khatami’s part, although he stated before that he was comfortable with any of the reformers in politics.  He had only announced his run for candidacy in February.

If Ahmadinejad wins, and he is still expected to take the Presidency again, the Republic of Iran will most likely continue moving down the hardline road, firm on its stance against Israel, anti-American expansion, and protective of its nuclear endeavors.  The American military announced that it had shot down an Iranian drone flying over Iraq last month.  As of yet Iran hasn’t made any comment on the drone.