World Cup boosts Iran’s image and highlights political sports battles
By James M. Dorsey
It didn't take long for it to emerge that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani shared an understanding of soccer’s political utility with his predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who’s militant and conservative policies he hopes to reverse.
Like Mr. Ahmadinejad, Mr Rouhani, a cleric, is seeking to identify himself with the success of his count…
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to The Turbulent World with James M. Dorsey to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.