![A woman stands outside a currency exchange shop at the historical Grand Bazaar in the Iranian capital Tehran on February 12, 2020. - Many Iranians, battered by economic sanctions, political turmoil and the lingering threat of military conflict, say they are in no mood to vote in the general elections. Speaking of heavy hearts and a sense of bitterness, Tehranis complain that they are tired of politicians who have failed to keep their word or to raise living standards. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) (Photo by](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2020/04/GettyImages-1201450808.jpg/GettyImages-1201450808.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=AcBSTjL4)
![Bijan](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2021-11/BKK_s.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=xVz7f0jC)
In Vienna, reporting on Iranian politics
Bijan Khajehpour is an economist and a managing partner at Eurasian Nexus Partners, a Vienna-based international strategic consulting firm. On Twitter: @BijanKK
![A woman stands outside a currency exchange shop at the historical Grand Bazaar in the Iranian capital Tehran on February 12, 2020. - Many Iranians, battered by economic sanctions, political turmoil and the lingering threat of military conflict, say they are in no mood to vote in the general elections. Speaking of heavy hearts and a sense of bitterness, Tehranis complain that they are tired of politicians who have failed to keep their word or to raise living standards. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) (Photo by](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2020/04/GettyImages-1201450808.jpg/GettyImages-1201450808.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=AcBSTjL4)
![GettyImages-1208943842.jpg](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2020/04/GettyImages-1208943842.jpg/GettyImages-1208943842.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=mjIrb2rZ)
![Bijan Khajehpour](https://www.al-monitor.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2021-11/BKK_s.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=xVz7f0jC)
Bijan Khajehpour
In Vienna, reporting on Iranian politics
![People wear protective face masks and gloves, amid fear of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), as they walk at Tajrish market, ahead of the Iranian New Year Nowruz, March 20, in Tehran, Iran March 18, 2020. Picture taken March 18, 2020. WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Ali Khara via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY - RC22NF92HAWR](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2020/04/RTS36MXX.jpg/RTS36MXX.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=Hqr4_o55)
![Bijan Khajehpour](https://www.al-monitor.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2021-11/BKK_s.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=xVz7f0jC)
Bijan Khajehpour
In Vienna, reporting on Iranian politics
![Iranian people wear protective masks to prevent contracting a coronavirus, as they climb an escalator in Tehran, Iran February 29, 2020. WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Nazanin Tabatabaee via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY - RC2BAF97VRQP](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2020/03/RTS3442O.jpg/RTS3442O.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=y0DpMdva)
![Bijan Khajehpour](https://www.al-monitor.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2021-11/BKK_s.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=xVz7f0jC)
Bijan Khajehpour
In Vienna, reporting on Iranian politics
![TOPSHOT - Iran's President Hassan Rouhani speaks at parliament in the capital Tehran on September 3, 2019. - In an address to parliament, Rouhani ruled out holding any bilateral talks with the United States, saying the Islamic republic is opposed to such negotiations in principle. He also said Iran was ready to further reduce its commitments to a landmark 2015 nuclear deal "in the coming days" if current negotiations yield no results by September 5. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) (Photo by ATTA KENARE/AFP via](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2019/12/GettyImages-1165804997.jpg/GettyImages-1165804997.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=I8PwUPvr)
![Bijan Khajehpour](https://www.al-monitor.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2021-11/BKK_s.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=xVz7f0jC)
Bijan Khajehpour
In Vienna, reporting on Iranian politics
![A man walks near the remains of gas pump stands, during protests against increased fuel prices, in Tehran, Iran November 20, 2019. Picture taken November 20, 2019. Nazanin Tabatabaee/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY - RC2CGD9I6P5F](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2019/11/RTX79ZS7.jpg/RTX79ZS7.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=DFlosfQE)
![Bijan Khajehpour](https://www.al-monitor.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2021-11/BKK_s.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=xVz7f0jC)
Bijan Khajehpour
In Vienna, reporting on Iranian politics
![An investor looks at a tablet supplying stock market information about listed companies on the Tehran stock exchange in Tehran, Iran, January 17, 2016. REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi/TIMAATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. - GF20000097649](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2019/10/RTX22Q2C.jpg/RTX22Q2C.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=evrcD0sa)
![Bijan Khajehpour](https://www.al-monitor.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2021-11/BKK_s.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=xVz7f0jC)
Bijan Khajehpour
In Vienna, reporting on Iranian politics
![RTS24GNA.jpg](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2019/09/RTS24GNA.jpg/RTS24GNA.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=MY6Y9KKm)
![Bijan Khajehpour](https://www.al-monitor.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2021-11/BKK_s.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=xVz7f0jC)
Bijan Khajehpour
In Vienna, reporting on Iranian politics
![An Iranian man buys new 500 rial coins from a currency trader in Tehran October 31, 2004. Iran has introduced the new coins to eliminate the cost of printing paper money. (8670Rls=1USD) REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl CJF/WS - RP5DRIAPWVAA](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2019/08/RTREMKY.jpg/RTREMKY.jpg?h=1d34674f&itok=Ya2cc2bE)
![Bijan Khajehpour](https://www.al-monitor.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2021-11/BKK_s.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=xVz7f0jC)
Bijan Khajehpour
In Vienna, reporting on Iranian politics
![Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh speaks to reporters at the Islamic Republic’s petroleum ministry in Tehran, Iran April 29, 2017. Picture taken April 29, 2017. REUTERS/Alissa De Carbonnel - RC1F7FBF27E0](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2019/08/RTS1682H.jpg/RTS1682H.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=uNYwTWHX)
![Bijan Khajehpour](https://www.al-monitor.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2021-11/BKK_s.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=xVz7f0jC)
Bijan Khajehpour
In Vienna, reporting on Iranian politics
![An employee works with her laptop at Takhfifan company in Tehran, Iran January 19, 2016. REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi/TIMA ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. - GF20000100032](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2019/06/RTX23305.jpg/RTX23305.jpg?h=1d34674f&itok=j5AL8WXn)
![Bijan Khajehpour](https://www.al-monitor.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2021-11/BKK_s.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=xVz7f0jC)
Bijan Khajehpour
In Vienna, reporting on Iranian politics
![A flock of sheep pass by beehives, as the National Iranian Oil Company's tank farm is seen at rear, in the countryside near Khoy ,1071 km (665 miles) northwest of Tehran, April 2, 2011. REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl (IRAN - Tags: ANIMALS BUSINESS ENERGY ENVIRONMENT) - GM1E7430FRD01](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2019/05/RTR2KQTE.jpg/RTR2KQTE.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=dct2WEqN)
![Bijan Khajehpour](https://www.al-monitor.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2021-11/BKK_s.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=xVz7f0jC)
Bijan Khajehpour
In Vienna, reporting on Iranian politics