Kevin Sullivan

The Ramifications of Mahmoud

Posted by Kevin Sullivan under Blog posts

Generally, I don’t consider there to be a great deal of difference between the Iranian hardliners and “pragmatic” technocrats.  I find the latter to be more adept at compromise and diplomatic relations, while still dangerously aligned with the revolutionary ideology of the regime.  There are, however, substantive differences in style, and Uskowi nails it on what Ahmadinejad has cost the Iranians:

Since the victory of Islamic revolution in Iran, Syria has consistently been Tehran’s closest ally. All that began to change when Ahmadinejad came to power three years ago. His policies and rhetoric have isolated Iran to an extent not seen in the thirty years of the Islamic Republic. Syria, the closest ally, is probably no more.

This is the most damaging consequence of Ahmadinejad’s presidency for Iranian foreign policy so far, and it could well be the beginning of worst days to come; notably the possibility of a military attack on the country.