IRANIAN REFORMISTS : BETWEEN MODERATION AND REVOLUTION By Alex

Iranian moderates made significant gains in the country’s February 2016 legislative elections. The reformists won 85 out of 290 seats compared with 75 seats for the conservatives. However, the reformists represented in the new parliament have no historical continuity with the reformist camp of the former President Mohammad Khatami; those reformists who might challenge the supreme leaders ideologically were disqualified by the Guardian Council. President Hassan Rouhani’s supporters, though moderate, are not reformists. They support the existing regime but also support Rouhani’s policy of greater openness toward the West and less oppression at home. Supreme Leader Ali Khamene’i has thus taken all necessary measures to block any dissent.