Iranian pragmatists

The Iranian pragmatists are a political faction in Iran composed of moderate clerics and the merchant elite, the Bonyad magnates and the risk-averse Shia Muslim middle and working class that see the Islamic Republic and its state apparatus as means to retain power.^[1] The pragmatic faction is receptive to negotiate with the West, pursue a pragmatic, strategic relationship with Hezbollah and other Shia political groups in the region and many would prefer a technocratic market economy rather than closed sanctioned markets. They formed the silent majority of Iranian society, favouring a sovereign Islamic government that respects economic and some social rights while maintaining strict Islamic social traditions such as hijab-wearing.^[a][b]

Notable pragmatists

• Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
• Hassan Khomeini
• Hassan Rouhani

Notes

1. Thaler et al. (2011) "The pragmatic conservatives [...] argue for technical and financial cooperation with the West[.] Despite harboring some suspicions [...] the pragmatic conservatives appear to view slowly warming relations with the West as a key to improving Iran's economy and global standing."^[2]
2. Nader et al. (2011) "Many [pragmatic conservatives] would prefer the Chinese model of economic progress without extensive democratization."^[3]