Can moderate Rohani make Iran change its ways?

Iranian President Hasan Rohani will continue in power. His resounding win in the elections on Saturday, leaving no room for a run-off, is being seen by the West as the victory of a reform-minded government that supports greater engagement with the world. True, Rohani is a moderate politician when compared with hardliner Ebrahim Raisi. Rohani has also been instrumental in securing a deal over his country’s nuclear programme that saw it capping its ability to develop a weapon. The deal was a show for the West, which lifted sanctions against the regime. But Iran has stayed true to its ambitions of seeking dominance in the Middle East. The country has continued to meddle in the domestic affairs of its neighbours. Iranian footprints are seen behind the unrest in Bahrain. In Yemen, the regime is fanning a conflict by supporting the Houthi rebels against the legitimate government of President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi. The world is aware of the chaos the Iranian regime is unleashing in Iraq and Syria through its proxies. Hezbollah, too, thrives as an independent military force with Tehran’s blessings.

For years, Tehran has continued to export sectarian groups in the region and has been the single most potent source of instability. Just last year, the Iranian army’s chief of staff had said that the country might set up naval bases in Yemen or Syria. Why would a regime want to do that if not to increase tensions in the region? If the country wishes to progress and truly charge ahead on the way of progress, the only way forward is to shun support for violence and cooperate regionally. Only then will Iran really benefit and progress. Increased cooperation would be a win-win for all and usher in economic benefits for the Gulf. That said, Rohani’s second term is unlikely to make a difference in ties with the world and the Gulf. He remains a moderate puppet president at best. Real power rests with Supreme Leader Khamenei whose support is crucial for his reform agenda. The presidential elections are a farce, a show for the world. A moderate Iran is what the world desires, not a moderate president.