In Friday's Iran Daily Summary: (contact us to receive full Daily Summaries)
- Hijab Problem: Plenty of Preaching from Pulpit, No Political Solution: Hijab has become a religious, social, and now political concern for the Nezam, with no solution in sight to address the socio-political problem of the here and now—not even after the supreme leader’s Nowruz message on the issue. Friday prayer leaders relied on moral and religious grounds to address a deep social divide—a religious vs. secular lifestyle—but none could solve the political problem that the hijab issue has become.
- Hijab: Internal Conflict over Enforcement: A number of religious and governmental officials are lining up to call for hijab enforcement, but concerns about the hefty cost of harsh confrontation and excessive, arbitrary measures by “concerned” citizens reveal disagreements even within the principlist camp.
- Cost of Iran’s Regional Activity Continues To Spark Debate: Iran’s backing of Shiite proxy groups, referred to as the "axis of resistance," remains a contentious issue in Iranian politics. Some have raised concerns about the economic costs of such support, but Nezam loyalists defend Iran’s role in the region, praising Tehran’s ability to influence the fate of neighboring countries and citing the recent Iran-Saudi agreement as a success achieved through Iran’s regional presence.
- Is Qalibaf-Ra’isi Alliance Still in Play?: With suggestions that Majles Speaker Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf is directly responsible for blocking MPs’ efforts to impeach the administration’s ministers, political observers are assessing the Qalibaf-Ra’isi alliance as still strong.
- Tehran-Riyadh Rapprochement: Gift Horse or Trojan Horse?: Aside from positive reactions to Iran-Saudi relations, former diplomat Abolfazl Zohrevand warns Iran and Syria to cautiously monitor Riyadh’s movements lest it turn into a scenario for the Saudis and the U.S. to harm Iran’s regional influence.
