Iran Goes to the Polls: What Will Its Historic Election Mean for the World?

“The House of Representatives is no longer planning to vote on the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act of 2009 this week. After publishing an article on Huffington Post about this, my staff at the National Iranian American Council was contacted by the House Financial Services Committee who informed us that the bill was no longer on the suspension calendar for Tuesday. The reason for the change? Concern that it could benefit hardline candidates in the Iranian election, as I had pointed out in my original article.”

The idea that the Obama Administration wants to avoid influencing the vote in Ahmadinejad's favor implies that they intend to continue pursuing talks with the new president, an outcome which the Israel lobby, who has been constantly advocating for a hardline approach to Iran, is opposed to.

Playing on the Bush Administration's classification of Iran as part of an “axis of evil,” Jonathan Steele of The Guardian argues that the Obama Administration should include Iran in an "axis of respect" if they are really interested in garnering change and working towards peace in the Middle East.

“In Cairo Obama spoke much of 'mutual respect.' The test is to show he means it.”

While Robert Dreyfuss of The Nation seems to believe that Mousavi will win, he also maintains that relations with America will continue to be rocky regardless of who the victor is due to the complex variables that have been impeding positive relations between the two states for years.

"There are minefields aplenty in the coming U.S.-Iran dialogue. Both sides are hugely suspicious of the other, and there are real, underlying issues that reflect conflicting interests between Washington and Tehran. On both sides, there are radicals and hardliners intent on sabotaging the prospect for better relations."

This does not mean, however, that an improved alternative to past relations is not attainable. Indeed, just as Iranian society is in a constant state of flux, so too are state relations on the world stage, especially in regards to the Middle East. Moreover, both countries have expressed a desire to change previous relations since Obama’s nomination as president.  While Obama extended an outstretched hand to the Iranian people during his famous Nowruz Message, the Iranian government continues to express its desire to talk directly with America, with Ahmadinejad reportedly telling the press that he would challenge Obama to a debate if he was elected.

The Iranian election has been boycotted by some, passionately participated in by others and watched intently by foreign powers. But whatever the outcome this Friday, one thing is clear: the Iran we see today is significantly different than the Iran we saw two presidencies ago -- and if the Iranian people do so desire it, Iranian society will continue on this natural and sustainable path of change and reform.  Of course, this is provided that foreign powers do not interfere in a way that will destroy this movement, or hurl it back a hundred years or more.