Aftermath of Iran's Presidential Elections

{
  "authors": [
    "Karim Sadjadpour"
  ],
  "type": "legacyinthemedia",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
  ],
  "collections": [],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "menaTransitions",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
  "programAffiliation": "MEP",
  "programs": [
    "Middle East"
  ],
  "projects": [],
  "regions": [
    "Middle East",
    "Iran"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Political Reform",
    "Foreign Policy"
  ]
}

In The Media

Aftermath of Iran's Presidential Elections

The surprise announcement that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had won outright the first round of Iran’s presidential election has been met with widespread allegations of fraud and domestic unrest.

By Karim Sadjadpour

Published on Jun 14, 2009

Source: CSPAN's Washington Journal

The surprise announcement that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had won outright the first round of Iran’s presidential election has been confronted with widespread allegations of fraud within Iran and domestic unrest. Karim Sadjadpour discusses the results of the Iranian elections and the role of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, "Presidential elections are not for the most powerful post in Iran. The most powerful post is held by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. That is an unelected position and Khamenei has held this position for twenty years now, so he's going to have to be the major arbiter in this situation but it's widely believed, and I think it's correctly believed, that Ayatollah Khamenei essentially selected Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president. Ahmadinejad is a Khamenei man. So he's not exactly an objective arbitrator in this situation."

About the Author

Karim Sadjadpour

Senior Fellow, Middle East Program

Karim Sadjadpour is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where he focuses on Iran and U.S. foreign policy toward the Middle East.

Recent Work

Q&A
What’s Keeping the Iranian Regime in Power—for Now
- Aaron David Miller, Karim Sadjadpour, Robin Wright
Q&A
How Washington and Tehran Are Assessing Their Next Steps
- Aaron David Miller, David Petraeus, Karim Sadjadpour

Political Reform Foreign Policy Middle East Iran

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Commentary
Emissary
The Iran War Is Uncovering the Weakness in U.S.-Gulf Ties
Neither the Abraham Accords nor the presence of large U.S. bases are enough to protect Arab Gulf states.
Marwan Muasher
Commentary
Carnegie Politika
The Afghanistan–Pakistan War Poses Awkward Questions for Russia
Not only does the fighting jeopardize regional security, it undermines Russian attempts to promote alternatives to the Western-dominated world order.
Ruslan Suleymanov
Article
Rewiring the South Caucasus: TRIPP and the New Geopolitics of Connectivity
The U.S.-sponsored TRIPP deal is driving the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process forward. But foreign and domestic hurdles remain before connectivity and economic interdependence can open up the South Caucasus.
Thomas de Waal, Areg Kochinyan, Zaur Shiriyev
Commentary
Diwan
Hezbollah’s Wartime Strategy
The party’s objectives involve tying together the Lebanese and Iranian fronts, while surviving militarily and politically at home.
Mohamad Fawaz
Article
A New Generation Takes Power in Nepal
The incoming government has swept Nepal’s election. The real work begins now.
Amish Raj Mulmi

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Commentary

Emissary

The Iran War Is Uncovering the Weakness in U.S.-Gulf Ties

Neither the Abraham Accords nor the presence of large U.S. bases are enough to protect Arab Gulf states.

Marwan Muasher

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

The Afghanistan–Pakistan War Poses Awkward Questions for Russia

Not only does the fighting jeopardize regional security, it undermines Russian attempts to promote alternatives to the Western-dominated world order.

Ruslan Suleymanov

Article

Rewiring the South Caucasus: TRIPP and the New Geopolitics of Connectivity

The U.S.-sponsored TRIPP deal is driving the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process forward. But foreign and domestic hurdles remain before connectivity and economic interdependence can open up the South Caucasus.

Thomas de Waal, Areg Kochinyan, Zaur Shiriyev

Commentary

Diwan

Hezbollah’s Wartime Strategy

The party’s objectives involve tying together the Lebanese and Iranian fronts, while surviving militarily and politically at home.

Mohamad Fawaz

Photo of Balen Shah taking a selfie with a group of Nepali adults and children.

Article

A New Generation Takes Power in Nepal

The incoming government has swept Nepal’s election. The real work begins now.

Amish Raj Mulmi