anctions designed to curb its nuclear programme, Mr Ahmadinejad is engaged in a furious struggle to ensure that his rival, the parliamentary speaker, Ali Larijani, does not succeed him. The corruption allegations levelled by Mr Ahmadinejad against the Larijani family are deeply damaging to the Iranian regime.

anctions designed to curb its nuclear programme, Mr Ahmadinejad is engaged in a furious struggle to ensure that his rival, the parliamentary speaker, Ali Larijani, does not succeed him. The corruption allegations levelled by Mr Ahmadinejad against the Larijani family are deeply damaging to the Iranian regime. M

elegation headed by former foreign secretary Jack Straw arrived in Tehran for consultations on the rapprochement. The delegation is set to meet with Ali Larijani (speaker of the Majlis) and Gholam Hossein Shafei (president of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture). This visit is a sign

sit to Tehran. Regional developments The resumption of relations between the two sides was announced March 10 by head of the Iranian Shura Council Ali Larijani, who said, "Iran is supporting Hamas on the grounds that it is a resistance movement. ... Our relationship with [Hamas] is good and has returned to

ctions designed to curb its nuclear programme, Mr Ahmadinejad is engaged in a furious struggle to ensure that his rival, the parliamentary speaker, Ali Larijani, does not succeed him. The corruption allegations levelled by Mr Ahmadinejad against the Larijani family are deeply damaging to the Iranian regime.

of Principlists essentially has tried to bring together all the three wings of principlism together and has candidates that represent, for example, Ali Larijani [speaker of the parliament] wing as well as other hardliners, while the Steadfastness Front has a list of hardliners, mostly followers of the hardl

f Principlists essentially has tried to bring together all the three wings of principlism together and has candidates that represent, for example, Ali Larijani [speaker of the parliament] wing as well as other hardliners, while the Steadfastness Front has a list of hardliners, mostly followers of the EFTA