New Leader, New Danger

In a country ruled by an authoritarian, intolerant and doctrinaire élite whose foreign policy has contributed significantly to vast economic problems, a disaffected electorate has voted in a candidate for change. While Britain waits to see which, if any, of Team Starmer's words in opposition will be matched by its actions in government, the second round of the Iranian presidential election has brought in an advocate for liberalising the censorship and the hijab law and attempting a more civil relationship with the west. Even without taking into account the conservative and reactionary factions among Iran's ruling establishment, it remains to be seen how the west will greet the threat of reform in one of its most treasured Great Satans.