In an interview with a major Colombian daily newspaper, AIC's Dr. Hooshang Amirahmadi discussed the recent Parliament and Assembly of Experts elections in Iran. He said "Khamenei allowed the engineered election in the hope of improving Iran's economy, more effectively controlling domestic politics, and reducing the external threat to the survival of his Islamic system."   In order to move forward with its economic and political plans, Iran needs to alter the international community's perception of Tehran. Iran believes Tehran has been perceived as weak because many have interpreted the JCPOA as Tehran's "surrender" to American pressure and the status of Syria, Iran's ally, as that of a "failed state."