Diplomacy Wins!
The nuclear deal with Iran crafted by President Obama and John Kerry has reaped big dividends in the first Iranian election to be held after sanctions were lifted. Reformist President Hassan Rouhani’s allies—moderates and reformers—won all of Tehran’s 30 seats in Parliament, then went on to win 42% of the total seats in April. The moderates and reformers now have 143 seats in Parliament, compared to 86 seats for the hard-liners and 61 for independents. That’s enough of a margin, analysts say, for Rouhani to implement some changes.
Over 60% of Iran’s 80 million population are under 30, and most of them are sick of the oppressive theocracy that was born before they were—in Ayatollah Khomeini’s 1979 revolution. Further, they’re sick of the economic troubles caused by Western sanctions.
