Teaching Comparative Government and Politics

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Iran's outreach program

Most sanctions have been lifted, and Iran seeks more external and internal legitimacy.

Hassan Rouhani in first Europe visit by Iranian president in 16 years

Hassan Rouhani is to make the first state visit to Europe by an Iranian president in almost two decades this week, following the lifting of sanctions against his country.

The trip will aim at rebuilding economic ties…

Rouhani is expected in Rome… where he will meet the Italian prime minister, Matteo Renzi. He will also meet Pope Francis at the Vatican. He will then travel to Paris on Wednesday and is scheduled to be welcomed by the French president, François Hollande, at the Elysée palace…

“The Rouhani administration is counting on sanctions relief resulting in economic improvements, and if possible, before next month’s parliamentary elections,” said Timothy Stafford, a research analyst at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI)…

There was no Renaissance in Iran

In fact, the portrayal of living things is frowned upon by most Muslims. It is thought to be a step toward idolatry. So when the Iranian president visited Rome, a center of Renaissance nudity, what were the Italians to do?

Rome spares Iranian president's blushes by covering nude statues

Covered nude

Italian officials keen to spare the Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, any possible offence on his visit to Rome covered up nude statues at the city’s Capitoline Museum, where Rouhani met Matteo Renzi, the Italian prime minister…

In another placatory gesture by Italian officials, alcohol was not served at an official dinner held in Rouhani’s honour…

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