Breakout Capacity: Iran in the Rouhani Era

Hassan Rouhani assumed the presidency of Iran last year amid great expectations for reform at home and renewed engagement abroad. From nuclear negotiations to the crises in Iraq and Syria, Rouhani’s term has so far been a mixed bag, offering hope but not yet transformation, as the articles in this report show.

Domestic Politics

Iran’s Structural Constraints Limit Rouhani’s Domestic Agenda
By Rouzbeh Parsi
March 6, 2014

Iran’s Rouhani Stokes Domestic Backlash With Attack on Critics
By Nader Habibi
Aug. 18, 2014

Dual Powers: Repression and Participation in Iran
By Manochehr Dorraj
Feb. 18, 2014

Out of the Shadows: Iran’s Evolving Approach to Drug Addiction
By Mehrun Etebari
Oct. 28, 2014

Expect Surprises as Iran Prepares for Khamenei’s Successor
By Frida Ghitis
Oct. 9, 2014

Regional Affairs

Iran’s Diplomatic Offensive Divides Gulf States
By Theodore Karasik
Dec. 16, 2013

Iran’s Participation Crucial to Resolving Syrian Crisis
By Carol E.B. Choksy and Jamsheed K. Choksy
Jan. 23, 2014

Iraq’s Turmoil Highlights Extent and Limits of Iran’s Influence
By Alireza Nader
Jan. 27, 2014

Saudi Outreach to Iran Represents a Shift in Tactics, Not Objectives
By Brandon Friedman
June 6, 2014

‘Grand Bargain’ in Yemen, Iraq Latest Sign of Iran-Saudi Arabia Thaw
By Nader Habibi
Oct. 10, 2014