For Mr. Ahmadinejad, who took the presidency in the end, it also constitutes a Pyrrhic victory. Before the election Iran was perceived as the dominant power in the Persian Gulf. The Unites States, which had contributed to Iran’s driver seat position by its dubious policy in Iraq, was ready for rapprochement with Tehran. Now, the regime in Iran is not only weakened on the inside but has also lost a lot abroad, as even those who were advocating a softer approach towards Iran are getting wary (and rightfully so).
