Skip to main content

Iran’s Rouhani shifts strategy in presidential race

Iran’s moderate president, Hassan Rouhani, has changed his tactics, attacking his conservative rivals who are determined to unseat him.
18403635_1334373549985036_3563684772710355037_n.jpg

Iran’s incumbent moderate president, Hassan Rouhani — who is seeking a second term — has changed his approach ahead of the May 19 presidential elections. In the past few days, Rouhani has become unprecedentedly straight and clear in his speeches, injecting more hope in his supporters.

Since the beginning of the presidential election campaigns, conservative candidates — namely Ebrahim Raisi, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Mostafa Mirsalim — have been attacking the moderate government of Rouhani, saying he has been unsuccessful in solving people’s problems such as unemployment. And from the beginning, Rouhani unexpectedly didn’t answer many of the criticisms and only tried to explain his plan for the second term, a decision that made his supporters angry. Now he has changed his tactic, responding to every challenge laid forth by his conservative rivals.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.