Two very different interpretations. Which on do you think is correct? Will anything help moderate the regime? http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017...e-opportunity-to-reshape-its-iran-policy.html IRAN Why Rafsanjani's death offers the US a unique opportunity to reshape its Iran policy Alireza Jafarzadeh By Alireza Jafarzadeh Published January 13, 2017 FoxNews.com FILE -- Former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani waves to journalists as he registers his candidacy for the elections of the Experts Assembly, in Tehran, Iran. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, one of the founding fathers of the Iranian regime, died last week on January 8. He served as President, Speaker of Parliament, Deputy Commander of the Armed Forces, head of the Assembly of Experts--the 88-member body of clerics tasked with nominating the Supreme Leader, and head of the Expediency Council, a body adjudicating disputes over legislation between the parliament and the Guardian Council. A defining chapter for the regime has now come to an end and a new uncertain chapter has opened. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bani-sadr-rafsanjani-death-iran-us_us_587822c8e4b09281d0ea35f5 Former Iranian President Bani-Sadr: Rafsanjanis Death Is A Blow To Normalization Of U.S.-Iran Relations Without the moderate leader, he says, the regime will maintain a confrontation and secret compromise trend, perhaps more easily with President Trump. 01/13/2017 12:02 pm ET Former Iranian President Rafsanjani passed away on Sunday. Abolhassan Bani-Sadr was the first president of the Islamic Republic of Iran after the 1979 revolution. In the following interview with The WorldPost, just days after the death of Irans fourth president, Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Bani-Sadr reflects on the leaders passing and what it means for the future of his country and its relations with America. Rafsanjani, known for his moderate views, long career among the ruling elite and oversight of developments in Irans nuclear program, died Sunday at the age of 82 after suffering from a heart attack. How would you describe the effect of Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on the Iranian revolution and its outcome? As the Iranian revolution was a spontaneous movement, [Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi] Rafsanjani did not play any role in its emergence. During the revolution, however, he became [Ayatollah Ruhollah] Khomeinis main assistant. After the overthrow of the monarchy, Rafsanjani had the most influence over Khomeini and played a leading role in reconstructing dictatorship in Iran after the revolution. This process lasted throughout the periods of leadership of both Khomeini and [Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei, [the current supreme leader], and in both periods, Rafsanjani was the second-in-command. His death reverses the situation and the belief that the non-reformability of the regime will prevail. How does Rafsanjanis death affect the reformists camp? Since [Mahmoud] Ahmadinejads presidency, Rafsanjani played the role of counterbalance in favor of reformism, arguing that the regime can be reformed. His death reverses the situation and the belief that the non-reformabilityof the regime will prevail. If people begin to believe that the regime can be reformed, Khamenei will be the main loser. The reformists will be losers, too. In fact, they will lose on two grounds. First, they will become weaker vis-à-vis the independent and democratic alternative, which is situated outside the regime and independent of any foreign power. Secondly, an increasing number of reformists, especially in rank and file, will join this alternative.
