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Significance
Rafsanjani, who had lost much overt political power over the past decade, was an important behind-the-scenes power broker in a deeply divided political landscape. He supported President Hassan Rouhani and centrist and reformist political factions. He was also an ardent advocate of economic liberalisation and Iranian rapprochement with the West.
Impacts
Economic benefits from the nuclear deal will be key to Rouhani’s reconnection with his political base.
Rafsanjani's death could trigger a hard-line reaction that could boost tensions with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
If 77-year-old Khamenei were also to pass away, regime instability might increase.
Keywords:
Iran,
ME/NAF,
Gulf states,
United States,
international relations,
politics,
government,
religion,
nuclear weapons
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2017
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