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Tehran

Seeds of hope in garden of rebellion

More than four decades ago, the unusually eloquent Polish foreign correspondent Ryszard Kapuscinski witnessed “a human river, broad and boiling, flowing endlessly, rolling through the main street [of Tehran] from dawn till dusk … a violent flood that in a moment will engulf and drown everything”.

Iran factor

Tehran clearly sees itself as a strong regional force which, in collaboration with Moscow and Beijing, can take on the West both economically and, if required, militarily.

Iranian bomb

Arguably, Iran could reach a point like North Korea did nearly 20 years ago when, in its reckoning, its decision on possessing the ultimate weapon outweighs any further international sanctions.

Hardliners in vanguard

It thus comes about that Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei, now the judiciary’s deputy head, will replace Ebrahim Raisi, who takes office in August as President after winning the election on June 18.