File 032217
Email on Iran Elections and Trump Speech (File 032217)
Email from Alireza Ittihadieh to Jeffrey Epstein discussing Hassan Rouhani's Iranian presidential election victory and implications for Western relations.
Summary
Alireza Ittihadieh sends an email to Jeffrey Epstein analyzing the May 2017 Iranian presidential election results, focusing on Rouhani's victory over hard-line candidate Ebrahim Raisi. The message discusses Rouhani's expected diplomatic outreach to the West, economic reform prospects, and the challenges he faces with Iran's hard-line judiciary and security forces. Ittihadieh concludes with commentary that Trump's assessment of Rouhani needing a chance to act is correct.
From: Alireza IttihadiehSent: 5/22/2017 6:58:42 AMTo: JEFF EPSTEIN [jeevacation@gmail.com]Subject: Iran and Trump Speech.Importance: HighMr. Rouhani's supporters also expect his victory, with 57 percent of the vote, to bolster hisoutreach efforts to the West and the pursuit of more foreign investment to lift Iran's ailingeconomy.For those who voted for Mr. Rouhani, there was a feeling of tremendous relief that his challenger,the hard-line cleric Ebrahim Raisi, who criticized the nuclear deal with the United States andother Western powers, had lost."Bye-bye, Raisi," the crowds chanted during the street gatherings."He faces a difficult task," Fazel Meybodi, a Shiite Muslim cleric from the city of Qum, said of Mr.Rouhani. "Now he must provide more freedoms, break the hard-line monopoly on the state-runradio and television, and increase freedom of press."To achieve all that, Mr. Rouhani must persuade the hard-line-dominated judiciary and securityforces to change their outlook, Mr. Meybodi said. "If he fails to deliver on at least 70 percent ofthose promises, his future is dark," he added.For decades, Saudi Arabia and Iran have competed for religious leadership and political influenceacross the Muslim world and beyond.Trump is correct, however, Rouhani needs a chance to act.V-BRAlireza lttihadiehHOUSE OVERSIGHT 032217