Introduction

Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader, via Associated Press

The decisive victory of the moderate, though well-connected, cleric Hassan Rowhani in Iranian elections surprised even many of his supporters.

But the continued power of theocracy and military elites in Tehran makes the power of elected officials a matter of debate.

Can Rowhani’s election result in real change in hardline conservative policies or will Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the Revolutionary Guard prevent reform?