Summary
President Hassan Rouhani has emerged a winner from the Iran nuclear deal but if he is to cement his moderate reputation he must confront long-sidelined domestic political challenges, analysts said.
"I do believe Mr. Rouhani now has a stronger hand but the problems are not just economic, but also include political prisoners".
Before he was elected Rouhani said there was a need to tackle the prisoners issue, especially those jailed after the disputed reelection of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2009 .
Although the nuclear deal, which will lift sanctions and pave the way for a better economy, is an achievement Rouhani must push hard to bring about a more inclusionist political atmosphere, Bavand said.
Saeed Laylaz, an economist and reform-leaning analyst, said rather than devoting his time to winning over reformists, Rouhani needs to exert his influence within the regime ahead of the poll.
Bringing job gains from the nuclear deal after years of a flattened economy and high unemployment will also occupy Rouhani, who faces a reelection battle in 2017 .
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