Iran's new president

Do you know who this man is? His name is Hassan Rouhani. He has just been elected to replace Ahmadinejad as President of Iran. But, who is Rouhani? Judith Levy attempts to answer that question here.

Is Rouhani going to be loyal to the ruling mullahs?

Rouhani's name would not have remained on the list of candidates if the mullahs had any serious doubts about either his loyalty or his willingness to remain largely powerless.

What does Rouhani's election imply about Iran's nuclear ambitions?

The simple fact of Rouhani's election will take a great deal of heat off Iran, and will thus enable it to continue apace on its nuclear program -- whatever the true nature of that program might be. It's certainly going to be much harder now to impose sanctions, or even to suggest them. Remember that for all Rouhani's good p.r., all final decision-making about Iran's nuclear program lies, as it always did, with the ruling clerics.

What does the election result mean for Israel's plans (if they exist) to take out Iran's nuclear installations?

I am not in a position to confirm that Israel has any such plans, but if they do exist, they depend on a uniformity of vision with the US.) At Ahmadinejad's worst, most fire-breathing moments, President Obama could scarcely stomach the prospect of a strike, so I doubt he would even consider it under this new Iranian administration.

Can we expect Rouhani to accomplish anything?

He may well accomplish a good deal domestically -- he has declared his intention to construct a "civil rights charter" and has plans to restore the economy, which is the primary concern of many Iranian voters -- but on the international front, he's unlikely to accomplish much. Anything he might want to do will be trumped by Supreme Leader Khameini, who remains the last word on everything. Khameini decides what Iran's nuclear policy is, and he's already warned Rouhani not to make concessions to the West on that (or any) score. In February, remember, Khameini threw the Americans' offer of direct talks back in their faces. Expect the Americans and the West at large to reach out, Rouhani to record some pleasing sound bytes in response, and nothing significant to change.