The reformist faction in Iran’s official politics is often accused of acting meekly, but a statement it published on Sunday shows just how emboldened it feels. The missive from the Iranian Reformist Front calls for thorough changes in Iran’s domestic and foreign policies.
Seeing the current moment as “a golden opportunity for change and return to the people”, its long list of demands includes release of political prisoners, pushing militias out of politics and economy, improvement in women’s rights and changing the state broadcaster’s approach.
Most controversially, it calls for Iran voluntarily suspending nuclear enrichment in return for the lifting of US-imposed sanctions. Iran must comply with the UN’s nuclear watchdog, it says. It wants Iran to go further and establish full diplomatic relations with the US. It calls for better ties with Saudi Arabia and helping to bring about the formation of a Palestinian state (the latter an implicit recognition of the two-state solution, which the IRF has called for before).
The IRF is an important part of the Iranian political establishment. It brings together a wide array of reformist parties and it is seen as the party of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who relied on its endorsement for his victory last year.
As such, the statement has shocked many in the establishment. Mr Pezeshkian himself is usually quick to declare his loyalty to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the Iranian government as a whole. Having recently met the IRF and its prominent leader, Azar Mansouri, Mr Pezeshkian might be forced to take a position on the statement.
Leading the attacks is the hardliner daily Kayhan, which accuses the IRF of heading “a slow coup” against the Islamic Republic, in line with the “hopes of the Americans and Zionists”. It goes on to say that if the IRF’s demands are implemented, Iran could no longer be called an Islamic Republic.
Sadegh Mahsuli, head of the hardline Paydari Front, has chimed in, accusing the reformists of “a new sedition to break Iran from within”. From Mashhad in north-eastern Iran, the daily Khorasan claimed the IRF’s call for “regional co-operation for a durable peace” was secretly aimed at Iran joining the Abraham Accords.
Even some reformists are opposed. Sayid Noormohammadi, spokesperson for Nedaye Iranian Party, which is part of the IRF, said the party does not like broad statements like this and did not vote for it in the front’s leadership meetings.
Most controversially, the IRF calls for Iran voluntarily suspending nuclear enrichment in return for the lifting of US-imposed sanctions
Mohammadreza Jalaeipour, a well-known reformist sociologist, led the strongest attack on the statement from this camp. He called it “a major mistake” and “a gift to purist hardliners and Israeli anti-regime elements”. Javad Azari Jahromi, communications minister under Hassan Rouhani, the centrist former president, said the statement amounted to Iran’s “submission to the United States”.
But the statement has also gathered countless defenders. Ebrahim Asgharzadeh, a former MP and leading reformist figure, attacked Mr Jalaeipour for effectively greenlighting a crackdown on the reformists. Instead, Iran needed frank political debate, he said. It was not the IRF statement but “justifying the status quo and denying people’s demands” that helped “domestic and foreign extremists”, Mr Asgharzadeh said.
Defenders of the statement point out that American attacks on Iran have effectively led to most nuclear enrichment being stopped. If the IRF gets its way, Iran would receive massive economic concessions in return for giving up what it barely has at the moment. The alternative could be a resumption of war.
The IRF is far from alone in recognising the need for fundamental changes in Iran. Abbas Karimi, a member of Mr Pezeshkian’s constitutional task force, recently called for “a fundamental review” of the Iranian constitution, asserting that it must change.
Javad Zarif, foreign minister under Mr Rouhani, penned an op-ed in the magazine Foreign Policy last week calling for a “paradigm shift”. He said Iran must expand its ties with its neighbours and seek “renewed dialogue” with Europe and the US and “a possible US-Iran non-aggression pact”.
Mr Rouhani himself published a long speech on August 13 that recalls the 12-day war between Iran and Israel and the US. Americans and Israelis failed in their dual goals of bringing down the Islamic Republic and disrupting the regional order, Mr Rouhani said, but he also called for fundamental changes in Iran, such as reducing tensions with the US, allowing the opening of private TV channels, an independent judiciary and a “new national strategy”.
Some top former reformists have already gone way beyond. Mir Hossein Mousavi, a former Iranian prime minister, called for a referendum and a change of the constitution last month. His call has been supported by hundreds of well-known figures such as Mostafa Tajzadeh, a former acting interior minister, and Parvaneh Salahshoori, a former MP.
In his latest statement from Evin prison, Mr Tajzadeh warned that outrageous inflation, unemployment and recurrent cuts to water and electricity threaten Iran with state failure. He repeated his call for “fundamental changes”.
What Mr Rouhani, the IRF and even some more radical critics such as Mr Tajzadeh have in common is pointing out that the Iranian government needs to expand its social base if it wants to survive. Iran must “fill the gap between the regime and the nation”, Mr Tajzadeh said.
There is a spectrum in calls for change. Mr Jalaeipour, for instance, has approved of Mr Rouhani’s speech despite his attacks on the IRF. But the hardliners remain opposed to any and all change.
Kayhan and Mr Mahsuli have attacked Mr Zarif and Mr Rouhani alongside the IRF, accusing them all of trying to restructure the regime. Meanwhile, Tasnim, a mouthpiece for the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, has put Mr Rouhani and reformists in the same basket, accusing them of wishing for a “Gorbachev moment”, a reference to the last leader of the Soviet Union whose attempts at change led to the downfall of communism.
By countering the government's hardcore establishment, reformists have shown incredible boldness. But caught between opponents of the leadership, who denounce reformists as a useless loyal opposition, and the domestic conservatives, who denounce them for their radical demands, they remain hard-pressed in finding a path forward. Realisation of their far-reaching demands requires degrees of political mobilisation they have not staged for years.
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
PROFILE OF STARZPLAY
Date started: 2014
Founders: Maaz Sheikh, Danny Bates
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment/Streaming Video On Demand
Number of employees: 125
Investors/Investment amount: $125 million. Major investors include Starz/Lionsgate, State Street, SEQ and Delta Partners
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Shooting Ghosts: A U.S. Marine, a Combat Photographer, and Their Journey Back from War by Thomas J. Brennan and Finbarr O’Reilly
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Petrarch: Everywhere a Wanderer
Christopher Celenza,
Reaktion Books
Set-jetting on the Emerald Isle
Other shows filmed in Ireland include: Vikings (County Wicklow), The Fall (Belfast), Line of Duty (Belfast), Penny Dreadful (Dublin), Ripper Street (Dublin), Krypton (Belfast)
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners
Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
Best Goal: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria vs Napoli)
Best Team: Atalanta
Best XI: Samir Handanovic (Inter); Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Joao Cancelo (Juventus*); Miralem Pjanic (Juventus), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Nicolo Barella (Cagliari*); Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta)
Serie B Best Young Player: Sandro Tonali (Brescia)
Best Women’s Goal: Thaisa (Milan vs Juventus)
Best Women’s Player: Manuela Giugliano (Milan)
Best Women’s XI: Laura Giuliani (Milan); Alia Guagni (Fiorentina), Sara Gama (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elisa Bartoli (Roma); Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus); Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus)
Federer's 11 Wimbledon finals
2003 Beat Mark Philippoussis
2004 Beat Andy Roddick
2005 Beat Andy Roddick
2006 Beat Rafael Nadal
2007 Beat Rafael Nadal
2008 Lost to Rafael Nadal
2009 Beat Andy Roddick
2012 Beat Andy Murray
2014 Lost to Novak Djokovic
2015 Lost to Novak Djokovic
2017 Beat Marin Cilic
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The%20specs
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Try out the test yourself
Q1 Suppose you had $100 in a savings account and the interest rate was 2 per cent per year. After five years, how much do you think you would have in the account if you left the money to grow?
a) More than $102
b) Exactly $102
c) Less than $102
d) Do not know
e) Refuse to answer
Q2 Imagine that the interest rate on your savings account was 1 per cent per year and inflation was 2 per cent per year. After one year, how much would you be able to buy with the money in this account?
a) More than today
b) Exactly the same as today
c) Less than today
d) Do not know
e) Refuse to answer
Q4 Do you think that the following statement is true or false? “Buying a single company stock usually provides a safer return than a stock mutual fund.”
a) True
b) False
d) Do not know
e) Refuse to answer
The “Big Three” financial literacy questions were created by Professors Annamaria Lusardi of the George Washington School of Business and Olivia Mitchell, of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Answers: Q1 More than $102 (compound interest). Q2 Less than today (inflation). Q3 False (diversification).
What is the definition of an SME?
SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.
A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors.
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
SPECS
Nissan 370z Nismo
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 363hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh184,500
FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Saint-Etienne v Montpellier (10.45pm)
Saturday
Monaco v Caen (7pm)
Amiens v Bordeaux (10pm)
Angers v Toulouse (10pm)
Metz v Dijon (10pm)
Nantes v Guingamp (10pm)
Rennes v Lille (10pm)
Sunday
Nice v Strasbourg (5pm)
Troyes v Lyon (7pm)
Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain (11pm)
Du Football Champions
The fourth season of du Football Champions was launched at Gitex on Wednesday alongside the Middle East’s first sports-tech scouting platform.“du Talents”, which enables aspiring footballers to upload their profiles and highlights reels and communicate directly with coaches, is designed to extend the reach of the programme, which has already attracted more than 21,500 players in its first three years.
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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MATCH INFO
Borussia Dortmund 0
Bayern Munich 1 (Kimmich 43')
Man of the match: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
Disability on screen
Empire — neuromuscular disease myasthenia gravis; bipolar disorder; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Rosewood and Transparent — heart issues
24: Legacy — PTSD;
Superstore and NCIS: New Orleans — wheelchair-bound
Taken and This Is Us — cancer
Trial & Error — cognitive disorder prosopagnosia (facial blindness and dyslexia)
Grey’s Anatomy — prosthetic leg
Scorpion — obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety
Switched at Birth — deafness
One Mississippi, Wentworth and Transparent — double mastectomy
Dragons — double amputee
