Elections and Three Historical Opportunities
(Cleric looks at electoral posters in the city of Qom. Photo:Mohsen Ghaemi/ISNA)
By: Hossein Mousavian
In [less than] 24 hours, the great nation of Iran will attend the ballot boxes. By electing members of the Assembly of Experts and the parliament, it will demonstrate the impact of its choice on the future of domestic, regional and international equations. After the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Islamic Republic of Iran is on the threshold of a giant leap at these three levels. This calls for mutual understanding, correct planning and coordinated, national-level measures by decision-making institutions inside the country. In this context, the parliament and the Assembly of Experts are two of the most critical decision-making bodies of the Islamic Republic.
The JCPOA, the fruit of the Supreme Leader's and the government's wisdom, has laid the groundwork for economic and industrial growth and compensation of economic relapse of the past that were a product of both sanctions and inefficiency of officials. The Middle East is burning in fire. Iran's sworn enemies such as Israel and Saudi Arabia are determined to diminish Iran's role, influence and national interests. Takfiri terrorism is equipped with territory, arms, oil, ideology and hundreds of thousands of ready-to-act fanatic followers who believe spilling the blood of Shias is their duty. With its advantages and capabilities, Iran can not only serve its own interests, but also stabilize the region and reinforce its regional status. After diplomatic success in nuclear negotiations, world powers have initiated a policy of interaction and dialogue with Iran over Middle East crises. If fruitful, this procedure will lead to the defeat of Iran's regional and international enemies. The choice of the Iranian nation on Friday February 26 will determine the result of these three historical opportunities.
* This piece was originally published in Arman Daily. Hossein Mousavian is former nuclear negotiator and current a research scholar at Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School.