Every four years when Iran holds an election for a new president, hopes are high that eventually a genuine reformist will take over and modernise the theocratic system. But more often than not, these hopes are dashed. It is therefore time to face the bitter reality: The Islamic Republic of Iran is not designed to enable change by means of elections - and this time, it will not be any different.
In fact, some observers rather cynically believe that the upcoming presidential election on June 18 is more honest than previous ones.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Read the full story and more at $9.90/month
Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month
ST One Digital
$9.90/month
No contract
ST app access on 1 mobile device
Unlock these benefits
All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com
Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device
E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you