Iran Developments

I haven't commented much on Iran just because I have little to add to the actual news accounts. Today the leading reformist party pulled out of this month's Parliamentary elections. This comes after massive resignations among reformists in Parliament when the hardline Council of Guardians only reinstated a fraction of those candidates it had previously banned from running. I think this would probably be a good time for some street demonstrations like we saw last summer. If the reformists can win this round, they will have seen their power and likely have the upper hand. If they lose, then the idea of reforming the system from within will stand revealed as an illusion, and the government will quickly lose all legitimacy.