In this conversation, Professor Kingshuk Chatterjee, an expert on politics of the Middle East, discusses the factors that led to the victory of a reformist candidate in the recent Presidential run off in Iran.
He says that the Iranian reformist constituency saw in the Presidential run off an opportunity to keep a hardliner like Saeed Jalili out of the Presidency and they seemed determined to do so.
India has been playing all sides in the political establishment which is the right thing to do. India is pushing its national interest. Previously, the reformists had always favoured Indian participation in Iranian politics because they see India as a counter-weight to China. In contrast, some hardliners are critical of India’s increasing alignment with the West but during the Raisi period, India’s involvement in the Chabahar Port made India work with players in the hardline establishment.
Now, both the reformists and the hardliners have had the experience of dealing with India and now understand that India is non-partisan in the internal affairs of other countries.
He says that the new President of Iran, Pezeshkian wants moderation in the implementation of mandatory Hijab laws. He is proposing that the Hijab laws be optional. If that happens, it would bring about an opening up of Iranian public space in a way which might increase his popularity.
He also thinks the strong stand that Pezeshkian took on the custodial death of Mehsa Amini, contributed in good measure to his victory.
He says that Pezeshkian also wants better relations with the wider world and wants the nuclear related sanctions regime to be removed.
Talking of the sea change in the energy dynamics between India and Iran, he said that if the sanctions go, India will run to Iran to get the oil because Indian refineries are more suited to refining crude from the northern side of the Persian Gulf.
Professor Chatterjee also articulated his views on how the new President is likely to start working after being sworn in. He said that Pezehskian is yet to get his feet on the ground and he is measuring his steps for the time being.
He also dwelt upon Iran’s foreign policy and the need for resetting relations between India and Iran.
He is optimistic about diversification in trade ties between India and Iran. He says that Iranians have a lot of respect for Indian people, Indian culture and Indian manufacturing.
