IRAN: The next Paradigm of the Middle East by Pirouz Azadi, Ph.D.

Iran is once again preparing to hold a presidential election in June 2005. The populace has participated in several recent presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections with a massive turnout seeking fundamental reform. After this did not materialize, voter turnout plummeted at the parliamentary election last year; this in turn led to a far right conservative majority parliament. The public, disillusioned with lack of any substantive reform, feels marginalized, ostracized, disenfranchised, disillusioned and frustrated. People have concluded that these elections are simply make believe in nature and not substantive. Every indication shows an extremely low turnout is anticipated for the June election. That does not mean that the establishment, a parallel over-shadow government run by the Supreme Guardian Ali Khamenei, would not resort to the old tactic of stuffing ballot boxes by “millions” of fabricated votes.