1. The World Responds to Iran's Elections: An Early Assessment
- Author:
- Andrew Boyko, Mark Lewis, and Louise Stenfors Virenfeldt
- Publication Date:
- 07-2009
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Center for Strategic Studies (CSS)
- Abstract:
- As the 2009 Iranian elections came to an end, many states and groups waited with anticipation to see who would lead Iran for the next four years. To the concern of many Western governments, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s second term as president was confirmed by the Guardian Council after a questionable recount. This paper tracks reactions from countries and groups following the election and assesses their possible implications for the future. The damning exchanges between Iran and the West are reaching a level of hostility that bodes ill for a future rapprochement. If they continue to escalate, and if Iran is unwilling to scale down its nuclear programme, is the possibility of military action against this country coming closer to realization?
- Topic:
- National Security, Nuclear Power, Elections, and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
- Political Geography:
- Iran and Middle East