Publication

This paper addresses civil-military relations and their implications for rival Iranian strategies. The author argues that the 2005 presidential candidacy of Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the former commander of the law enforcement force and Revolutionary Guards air force, has triggered major debate about civil-military relations in Iran while, on the other hand, opponents of the participation of former military commanders in politics have argued that it contravenes the late Ayatollah Khomeini’s ruling that the military must not interefere in politics. The author concludes that the challenge for those who wish to transform Iranian politics is to cultivate the Guards and to capitalize on the differences between the leadership of the Guards and the rank and file.