There’s been a good deal of drama surrounding Iran over the last couple days. To begin with, the country’s Guardian Council barred reformists from running in the upcoming presidential election. Then Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, possibly fearing a widespread electoral boycott and protests, ordered the Guardian Council to reconsider letting the top two reformist candidates run. Finally, the Guardian Council backed away from its initial ruling and is now allowing Mostafa Moin and Mohsen Mehralizadehrun to run for the presidency. Of course, I go into more detailed analysis on all of these events in the above links, but to summarize: Iranian public opinion has achieved a hollow victory, since, regardless of who wins, the Guardian Council will continue to restrain true reform in the Iranian parliament, the same as it has over the last eight years with moderate President Khatami.