New moderate president in Iran may offer buffer for hard-line rulers For a lesson in what Hassan Rowhani's reformist-backed presidency could mean for Iran, a promise Sunday by the ultra-powerful Revolutionary Guard to co-operate with him is a good guide. Like the rest of Iran's ruling Islamic establishment, the Guard, which has kept a tight lid on any hints of opposition for years, is for the moment embracing Mr. Rowhani, even though he is almost certain to return once-silenced moderates into the political fold and restore the voice of liberal-leaning Iranians who danced in the streets after his stunning election victory. The reason is because - in one of the more curious twists of Iranian politics - the opposition's accidental hero Mr. Rowhani also may become a lucky charm for the ruling system. His surprise victory allows the Islamic leadership to seek a bit of legitimacy among liberals and others who felt they were exiled off the political map after the crackdowns following massive protests in 2009 over the disputed re-election of the now-exiting Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. "They counted my vote!" some Rowhani supporters chanted in a mix of celebration and shock after the announcement of the results from Friday's election. Mr. Rowhani's mild manifesto - sprinkled with words like "moderation" and "dialogue" - also could provide a honeymoon period for the leadership as a whole. Factions in Israel and the United States that have promoted military options against Iran's nuclear program may find themselves in search of an audience with Mr. Rowhani playing the role of tension-easer. The ecstatic outpouring of Iranians dancing and celebrating in the streets Saturday night and Sunday reflected the hopes that Mr. Rowhani can bring an end to the domination of hard-liners for the past eight years under Mr. Ahmadinejad, with arrests against the opposition and restrictions on rights. Many saw the win as a slap to the ruling clerics, sending a message that they cannot keep the opposition bottled up. Mr. Rowhani does have a people-power mandate that certainly will be factored in by Iran's rulers. But the scope of his win - more than three times as many votes as the runner-up - doesn't give him any extra-credit powers. Iran's presidency is still without the tools to take any major initiatives without clearance from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei or, by extension, the Revolutionary Guard. The ruling clerics - not the president - hold all the cards in policymaking and make every decision such as nuclear efforts, dealings with the West or Iran's aid to its ally Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, who sent Mr. Rowhani a congratulations message Sunday that urged for the countries to remain united. What the Iranian president can offer is advice and attempt to nudge views in his direction. Mr. Rowhani has been at the negotiating table before as Iran's envoy to talks with the West on its nuclear program, beginning in 2003, just a year after Tehran's revived nuclear efforts were revealed. He has been highly critical of Iran's leadership for not showing more nimble tactics and allowing the economic squeeze to become so painful, with inflation now galloping at about 30 per cent and critical oil exports cut in half. But he is moderate in the mould of his political patron, former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who wages selective battles against the Islamic establishment but manages to stay an insider with a post within the ruling hierarchy. A test ahead could be whether Mr. Rowhani attempts to win the release of the candidates from the disputed 2009 election. Chants at his victory celebrations urged for their freedom. There is a lot to be cautious about. Rowhani is part of the system. He has served in some of the highest positions in Iran, including within the military and national security establishment," said Alireza Nader, senior policy analyst at the Rand Corp., a Washington-based think tank that receives U.S. funding. He is not a reformist. He appears as an alternative candidate when compared to people like former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. This is a low bar.