![Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during Friday prayers in Tehran September 14, 2007. REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl (IRAN) - RTR1TTSE](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2014/10/RTR1TTSE.jpg/RTR1TTSE.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=r_i_X3W1)
Ali Afshari is an Iranian political analyst. He is a former student leader and member of the Central Committee of the Office for Consolidation of Unity, which was the main and largest student organization in Iranian universities during the Reformist era. He is a doctoral candidate at George Washington University and contributes regularly on current Iranian political events in Persian and English-language media.
![Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during Friday prayers in Tehran September 14, 2007. REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl (IRAN) - RTR1TTSE](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2014/10/RTR1TTSE.jpg/RTR1TTSE.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=r_i_X3W1)
![Iranian MPs wait for the results of impeachment of Minister for Science, Research and Technology, Reza Faraji Dana as other MPs (top L) count the ballots after voting at parliament in Tehran on August 20, 2014. Iran's conservative-dominated parliament voted to sack the science minister for wanting to recruit people accused of involvement in the 2009 protest movement. AFP PHOTO/BEHROUZ MEHRI (Photo credit should read BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP/Getty Images)](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2014/08/453857286.jpg/453857286.jpg?h=c2c5b897&itok=rp1Vyx_I)
![Ali Afshari](https://www.al-monitor.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/authors/Ali-afsharicolor.jpg/Ali-afsharicolor.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=Xd0VU_Qd)
Ali Afshari
![Iranian President Hassan Rouhani delivers a speech during a rally in Tehran's Azadi Square (Freedom Square) to mark the 35th anniversary of the Islamic revolution on February 11, 2014. The 35th anniversary of the revolution that ousted the US-backed shah, comes as Tehran rides the wave of a landmark nuclear deal with major powers. AFP PHOTO/ATTA KENARE (Photo credit should read ATTA KENARE/AFP/Getty Images)](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2014/04/468575829.jpg/468575829.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=JKwb9zBm)
![Ali Afshari](https://www.al-monitor.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/authors/Ali-afsharicolor.jpg/Ali-afsharicolor.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=Xd0VU_Qd)
Ali Afshari
![Dr. Faraji Dana claps as Iranian President Mohammad Khatami receives his honorary international relations doctorate in Tehran. Dr. Faraji Dana (R), president of Tehran University, claps as Iranian President Mohammad Khatami receives his honorary international relations doctorate from Tehran University April 27, 2005. REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl - RTR9DQU](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2014/01/RTR9DQU.jpg/RTR9DQU.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=BGiBIQZ2)
![Ali Afshari](https://www.al-monitor.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/authors/Ali-afsharicolor.jpg/Ali-afsharicolor.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=Xd0VU_Qd)
Ali Afshari
![Iran's Parliament speaker Ali Larijani attends a news conference in Islamabad Frbruary 12, 2013. Larijani is in Pakistan to attend the first Speakers Conference of Parliamentary Association of ECO Countries (PAECO). REUTERS/Faisal Mahmood (PAKISTAN - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3DOPH](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2013/10/larijani.jpg/larijani.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=1vpS0AmP)
![Ali Afshari](https://www.al-monitor.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/authors/Ali-afsharicolor.jpg/Ali-afsharicolor.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=Xd0VU_Qd)
Ali Afshari