The Iranian Election

The Iranian people voted President Ahmedinijad to office for a second term. The expectation, mostly in the US, was that his main rival the moderate Mousavi would win and usher in a new era of a cooperative relationship with the West. Post elections there are unprecedented violent street demonstrations against the election result and President Khamenei has ordered an official investigation into the conduct of the election. What is happening in Iran is Iran’s internal affair and so far there are no allegations by Iran of external interference or instigation of street riots. What is significant is the fact that street protests are taking place at all---this is a new development that can have implications for the future. It is for Iran to respond to the new emerging domestic political environment---so far the state apparatus is being used to quell the emotional outburst from Mousavi’s supporters...