Iran’s new president, Hassan Rouhani, is causing much optimism around the world, not only raising hopes that some of the tensions in the Middle East involving Iran might be reduced, but also that Tehran can help resolve the region's most burning issue today — namely, the crisis in Syria. Whether this optimism is justified, only time will tell, but all new beginnings justify the benefit of the doubt.
Rouhani’s election is also seen as an opportunity for improving Turkish-Iranian ties, which have been strained in recent years for a host of reasons, most notably the support the two countries are giving to the opposing sides in the Syrian conflict. In a Sept. 26 article for Al-Monitor, Fehim Tastekin provides a broad analysis of the possible new opportunities under Rouhani for relations between Tehran and Ankara.
