In April, when experienced Reformist politician Mostafa Moein said, “I believe Mr. Rouhani needs a very strong think tank” to advise him on all issues, it did not stir up much reaction in the domestic media. However, now that Iran’s presidential election is only seven months away, the setting up of a Reformist think tank might be viewed as the Reformist faction's believing it is closing in on winning the presidency again.

The pro-reform Arman Daily’s interview with Moein, published Oct. 6 with the headline “Reformists within Rouhani’s think tank,” announced the unofficial think tank and said “the president is much too busy to set up an official think tank.”

Moein is well-known within Reformist circles as he served as culture minister during Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani’s presidency (1989-1997) and as culture minister and then science minister during the presidency of reformist Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005). Moein, who is today one of Rouhani’s advisers, said, “Rouhani’s chief rival is his own performance, and we hope that in the final months the 11th government [Rouhani’s administration] can benefit more from opportunities.”

The Arman article said that the conservative hard-line faction in Iran, better known as the Worried group, is trying to pull Rouhani toward its views to damage his popularity. “[Even] without an official decree, the Reformists regard it as their duty to give advice to Rouhani and to offer their views, [while] the Worried [group] is well aware of this.”