Eye on Iran’s new cabinet
“Reports out of Tehran indicate that the makeup of Iran’s cabinet will undergo extensive changes during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s second term,” says Asia Society’s Director of Policy Studies Suzanne DiMaggio, who ran a U.S-Iran Track II dialogue from 2001 to 2007.
“These changes most likely will be announced in mid- to late-August. Many anticipate that current Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki will be replaced by someone close to Ahmadinejad who shares his hardline outlook and approach. It will be interesting to see if any senior positions are filled by any of Ahmadinejad’s rivals from the moderate conservative camp known as the ‘Principalists’ and represented by individuals including former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati, speaker of Iran’s parliament Ali Larijani, mayor of Tehran Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the former head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Mohsen Rezai, or others. Such a move would indicate that some sort of accommodation had been struck to address the ongoing power struggle in Iran.”
Suzanne is in New York. Please contact the Asia Society communications department to arrange an interview or media appearance. [email protected] 212-327-9271.