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Why the Ayatollah Thinks He Won
(Wall Street Journal) Jay Solomon - The U.S. hoped that the nuclear deal would boost Iran's moderates, but after more than a year, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his allies seem to be the big winners. On Aug. 1, Khamenei said that Iran's experience with the nuclear deal "showed us that we cannot speak to [the Americans] on any matter like a trustworthy party," as many in the crowd chanted anti-U.S. slogans. But for all his complaints about American treachery, Khamenei recognizes that the nuclear deal has produced significant benefits that may serve to further entrench the regime. As international sanctions against Iran have slackened, the ayatollah and his core allies have expanded the Iranian military and pursued new business opportunities for the companies and foundations that finance the regime's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.