Rafsanjani Jr. Urges Realism

Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Qalibaf has emerged as the first among equals within Iran’s collective leadership. Meanwhile, Mohsen Hashemi Rafsanjani, son of the late President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, has assumed the mantle of leadership among the country’s technocratic elites, who are advocating for a negotiated resolution to the armed conflict between Iran and the United States.

• June 9: Mohsen Hashemi Rafsanjani, son of the late President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, wrote an opinion piece that was published in reformist Shargh:
  • Part 1: “About 100 days have passed since the start of the ‘Ramadan war.’ Fortunately, a sense of Iran’s victory prevails among the people and across the world. Yet society remains concerned about war and peace, security and insecurity, poverty and prosperity. Under these circumstances, some of those who control the national media, official platforms, and the public space continue to beat the drum of struggle without negotiation, portraying negotiation as betrayal and disgrace. Of course, since the revolution, we have repeatedly witnessed the emergence of such voices and such a mindset in the country.”
  • Part 2: “In the current circumstances, the fifth generation – largely led by television presenters, certain eulogists, and ultrarevolutionary figures on social media – regards the actions of previous generations as acts of betrayal and sees struggle without negotiation as the solution … The Iranian economy is in a deep crisis. At a time when, apart from the wealthiest 4% of society, not only the poor and vulnerable classes but also the middle class and even the relatively affluent are struggling with economic hardship, slogans cannot put food on people’s increasingly diminished tables. We have no choice but to shift our perspective from idealism to realism. Otherwise, we will lose the ability to resist and defend the country’s national rights. The objective must be the creation of lasting security.”

The views represented herein are the author's or speaker's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of AGSI, its staff, or its board of directors.