Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (pictured at left, the short man) was sworn-in as Iranian president this week with the continuing cloud of the disputed elections still overshadowing his alleged election. Against the backdrop of a divided clerical establishment in Iran, widespread dissatisfaction in the Iranian population and powerful figures in Iran's political elite challenging his position (particularly former presidents Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Mohammad Khatami and former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Mousavi), Ahmadinejad continues on.The question which arises is how long can Iran continue with the policies of the current president which are more provocative than constructive.
With a poor economic outlook, a suspect nuclear weapons policy and a repressive regime which discourages debate, Iran remains a disadvantaged nation and almost a pariah internationally. Iranian politics is tough and full of complexity with a myriad of interlocking bodies, interests (both religious and secular) and key figures yet increasingly most of these groups are finding common ground in their mutual concern with and distrust of, the Iranian president.
