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Old friends steer Iran's Rouhani to the right

Iran’s president appears to be turning right on the political stage as his friends gain more prominence in his second-term Cabinet.
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani delivers remarks at a news conference during the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, U.S. September 20, 2017. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith - RC1C81987250

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s second term in office, which began in August, has been accompanied by much criticism from the Reformists, so much so that some have even reported rifts emerging within the Cabinet.

Rouhani entered Iran’s presidential election scene in 2013 and 2017 as a candidate for the Reform movement, which allowed him to defeat his conservative rivals. However, it seems Iran’s president is now more than ever engaged in launching a movement of his own.

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