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Reformist analyst: Rouhani has no strategy

Prominent former Iranian politician Ebrahim Asgharzadeh has said that one of the main issues of President Hassan Rouhani's administration is the lack of a strategy to implement his stated political goals.

Iranian reformist Ebrahim Asgharzadeh prepares his paperwork to register as a presidential candidate at the Interior Ministry in Tehran.  Iranian reformist Ebrahim Asgharzadeh prepares his paperwork to register as a presidential candidate at the Interior Ministry in Tehran May 14,2005. Candidates began registering on May 10 for Iran's June 17 presidential election. REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi - RTRB4PM
Iranian Reformist Ebrahim Asgharzadeh prepares his paperwork to register as a presidential candidate at the Interior Ministry in Tehran, May 14, 2005. — REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi

In an interview with Reformist Etemaad newspaper, analyst Ebrahim Asgharzadeh, one of the organizers of the 1979 takeover of the US Embassy, an act for which he offered an apology, talked about the current state and past failures of Reformist movements and complaints of the President Hassan Rouhani administration. The former member of parliament and chairman of the Tehran City Council believes the administration doesn’t yet know what its own strategy is, and said the Iranian public is beginning to ask questions.

In his interview with journalist Mojtaba Hosseini, Asgharzadeh said that one of the problems with the Rouhani administration is that “They don’t know what their function is. Are they non-partisan or coalitionist? Reform-inclined and wanting change or moderate and wanting to maintain the current status? Are they socialists or neoliberal? With what strategy, capabilities and accessories will [Rouhani] achieve his political, economic and cultural goals and implement his campaign slogans?”

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