Tehran, YJC. Zibakalam says that the IRGC’s hand in the economy as well as subsidies given by Ahmadinejad are two important challenges to the Rouhani administrations.
Speaking in an interview with Khabar Online, Sadeq Zibakalam said "Worries
regarding the Rouhani administration come from two sources. The first one is
the IRGC, and the second one the subsidies.”
He believed that on one side Rouhani has to take care of the power that the
IRGC has gained in the past 8 years to become a mega-entrepreneur in every big
economic project; and on the other hand the fact that Ahmadinejad will give
subsidies to people to the last moment of his administration.
The analyst believed that Rouhani will not be able to deal with these
two issues unless he is aided by the Supreme Leader.
He also pointed to the freedom of the press as another challenging task
to be done by Rouhani and said "I believe that his most serious task is to make
room for some degree of freedom in the press, and he must demand that of the
ruling power. The best thing about the freedom of the press is that without he
himself noticing it, the press will become a supporter for Rouhani.”
He added that if Rouhani gives the press freedom, he would not have to
repeat the mistakes of the past officials.
Zibakalam stated that under current situations 80-90 percent of the
nation think that the West is being unjust with Iran, while if Rouhani yields
some freedom to the press, extremists will not criticize him once he is to make
agreements with the negotiating side.