Surely in Iran's history there've been many opposing political/social groups whos differences were more pronounced than that of the Reformists and Conservatives in today's Iran. Nevertheless, the views of Reformers is significantly different from those of the Conservatives and Khatami's handing of power to Ahmadinejad today marks the first of such peaceful transition of power between two significantly opposing political/economic views.
One may argue that Khamenei is still in power and there has been no real transfer of power. But that is like trying to down play the peaceful transfer of power in US or UK by saying that the US Constitution is still in place or the Queen technically still has the last say. Be that as it may, it still does not negate the fact one political group with significantly contrasting vision and beliefs peacefully handed over its powers (even if limited) within the frame work of existing laws and constitutions.
IMO, this is huge. No "beh toop bastan e majlis", no political assasination, no bloody revolution, coup and then counter coup, or foreign intervention took place and for the first time one political group accepted its limitations and loss within the current constitution and peacefully handed the power the other side. lets hope the trend will continue.
One may argue that Khamenei is still in power and there has been no real transfer of power. But that is like trying to down play the peaceful transfer of power in US or UK by saying that the US Constitution is still in place or the Queen technically still has the last say. Be that as it may, it still does not negate the fact one political group with significantly contrasting vision and beliefs peacefully handed over its powers (even if limited) within the frame work of existing laws and constitutions.
IMO, this is huge. No "beh toop bastan e majlis", no political assasination, no bloody revolution, coup and then counter coup, or foreign intervention took place and for the first time one political group accepted its limitations and loss within the current constitution and peacefully handed the power the other side. lets hope the trend will continue.