The Diplomat Sheikh has retired
Just as the extension of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s membership in the Expediency Discernment Council surprised political observers despite whispers to the contrary, the lack of an appointment for Hassan Rouhani, the former president, was equally surprising. This is because the nature of the council’s advisory duties relies on the use of former high-ranking officials of the country.
Hassan Rouhani, with a wealth of experience and work in security, military, legislative fields, and the highest executive position, could have truly been the most qualified individual for membership in the new term. However, it might be worthwhile to revisit Hassan Rouhani’s presidency and review his attendance record in the council’s meetings.
At the beginning of his term and after the 2013 elections, Hassan Rouhani, due to his closeness to Ayatollah Hashemi and his significant role in Rouhani’s election, attended the council’s meetings actively, though not permanently.
However, after about two years into his presidency, he participated less in the meetings of this institution. Even close associates of Ayatollah Hashemi have mentioned that in the last year of Rouhani’s first term, he did not seek Hashemi’s advice as before or pay attention to his opinions.
But after Ayatollah Hashemi’s death, President Rouhani argued that since the president is legally the second person in the country and presides over all meetings where the president is present, except those with the leader, how could he attend the council’s meeting under someone else’s chairmanship and be the second person in the meeting? He insisted on this view and essentially did not attend any of the council’s sessions, not even to defend the necessity of joining the FATF, which the council deemed contrary to the system’s interests.
However, after his presidency ended, many around him and perhaps he himself expected to take the chair of the council’s presidency. Yet, the reality of internal politics and the unfortunate event of his last meeting with the leader—Rouhani’s delay in attending the meeting, which reportedly resulted from a lack of coordination with the leader’s office—indicated the beginning of a cold period in the relationship between the leader and Rouhani. Indeed, this happened, and today, in the new appointments for the Expediency Discernment Council, there is no mention of the president and vice president of the fifth Islamic Consultative Assembly, who were once considered trustworthy and beloved by the leader.
It seems we should consider the presidency as the last official position of the Diplomat Sheikh in the Islamic Republic system. This again brings attention to the theory that in revolutionary systems, the children of the revolution do not have a happy ending, warranting more contemplation.